Posts Tagged ‘earthquake’

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Japan Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami Update 1

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:

More information has become available about the effects and response to the earthquake which struck off the coast of Honshu Japan around 05:46UTC Friday 11th March causing extensive damage to the country and also triggering Tsunami waves and warnings across the Pacific.

Jim Linton VK3PC, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications committee Chairman relayed the following,

From the JARL building headquarters the newly appointed secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, reports that the building shook quite strongly, but no serious damage was caused.

“With regard to Amateur Radio activity in the affected areas, we are not aware of any so far,” he said.

“It seems that the communications infrastructure has survived the quake and is in working order in regard to priority communications.”

There are broadcast media reports that cellphone and landline telephone services are disrupted and there are wide area power outages but the emergency services are working well. Icko Suzuki, JA1BPA, of Tokyo, told the ARRL that in Japan, emergency communications activities and support normally occur on 40 meters and on VHF, “so normal DX bands should not be affected.”  As well as the IARU Region 3 Emergency CoA frequencies, the ARRL report that Amateur Radio operators from Japan may also use 7.130, 14.230 and 21.230 MHz for emergency communications.

The tsunami waves are still propagating across the Pacific ocean with variable effects, some countries are spared while others are observing significant waves and some property damage.

In North America, some parts of California observed waves of up to 1-2m while other areas had less than 1m waves.  In the USA the only nets known to be operating at the moment are the Oregon ARES®/RACES net on 3.964 MHz and SATERN on 14.265 MHz.

The waves should reach Peru around 0251UTC 12th March but the continuing aftershocks in the area of Japan leave the possibility of further tsunami warnings being issued.

Other than the nets mentioned, there does not seem to be any wide area emergency communications by amateur radio but it would still be appreciated if extra care was taken to avoid any emergency traffic until  the situation becomes clearer.

- Jim Linton, VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.

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Japan Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:

A series of earthquakes has struck off the coast of Honshu Japan around 05:46UTC today causing extensive damage to the country and also triggering Tsunami waves and warnings across the Pacific.

At this time there are no reports of amateur radio involvement in the disaster response but it would be appreciated if extra care was taken to avoid any emergency traffic. The IARU Region 3 Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies are;

3600 kHz
7110 kHz
14300 kHz
18160 kHz
21360 kHz

The situation is developing as it can take many hours for a tsunami wave to cross the Pacific ocean, more information will be provided when it is available.

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Latest news from the Christchurch earthquake

Friday, March 4th, 2011

Received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:

Still playing a role after the earthquake that hit the Christchurch area of New Zealand since Tuesday 22 February, swinging into action from day one.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) reports that until todays movement from a rescue to a recovery phase all engagement had been with rescue teams.

AREC spokesman Stuart Smart ZL4FZ says, “At this stage we are still extensively supporting the urban rescue operation.
“There are about 250 staff in the field and all of that communication is coming back through AREC.”

AREC members are trained for such disasters and are a part of the normal response under arrangements with New Zealand Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

Its operations have been confined to VHF frequencies and avoided use of HF channels identified for that purpose.

The Christchurch Mayor Bob Chapman announced the switch to the recovery phase with death toll of 161 and 200 missing.

Some 67% of affected people have had water supplies restored, and even fewer are reconnected to the sewer, while 27,000 are without power.

The Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency which has been extended until midnight 7 March.

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Christchurch disaster a day on

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator:

The death toll stands at 75, dozens yet to be rescued from beneath buildingrubble, and hundreds of people still missing are still the desperate scene 24 hours after an earthquake struck the Christchurch area of New Zealand.

The massive rescue effort that now involves 300 rescuers boosted by urban experts from Australia has rescued 20 people so far and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said a pocket of 15 had been found in the TV3 building, the heart of local television production.

Meantime under normal arrangements, the members of Amateur Radio Emergency Communication (AREC) were busy. Check out the NZART website under ?What and Who is AREC?. A report on the frequencies in use or activities was yet to be received.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said a State of Emergency continued and those in the affected areas needed to keep their resolve and good spirits as the whole country was right behind them. He acknowledged the support already
given and being offered from overseas.

The earthquake disaster bill of last September (7.1 at a depth of more than 30 metres) was put at $8 billion but the latest quake (6.3 and at a depth of just five kilometres) could be double that amount.

Christchurch and its surrounding areas account for 500,000 people, about half the population of the South Island of New Zealand.

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Second quake for Christchurch

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Received from IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator

Hours ahead face rescuers following the devastating, shallow 6.3 on the Richter scale earthquake which struck the heavily populated business area of Greater Christchurch in New Zealand.

There are initial reports of 17 deaths in the second quake to hit since September last year. Under normal arrangements members of the AREC will find their services in use again. Reports are expected.

Communications and power has been cut in many areas, and water supplies disrupted.

The utter devastation has severely damaged many of the major buildings including the cathedral in central Christchurch.

Nearby towns have also been affected.
While the 7.1 earthquake last September was more than 30km underground, the latest 6.3 quake was a mere five kilometres in depth. It has been followed by major aftershocks.

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Christchurch New Zealand earthquake, a week on

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

The massive recovery operation continues after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Christchurch at 4.36am on Saturday 4 September, leaving a damage bill of NZ$4billion and physically injuring a few people.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) members quickly established an on air net and observed the operational status of the repeater systems, and apart from at least one switching to emergency power all was fine.

AREC Assistant National Director, Geoff Chapman ZL3PX said designated emergency frequencies for on the 80m, 60m and 40m bands, plus 2m band simplex were activated.

The Christchurch AREC Communications Bus ZK9EAC, and Comms Vehicle ZK9EAD operated on all those frequencies. They were deployed for three days in the initial recovery phase of the disaster in conjunction with the military.

AREC also provided communications for the volunteer clean-up teams. The Christchurch City Civil Defence permanent radio communication systems were unaffected. AREC members have been required as radio operators. A total of eight radio amateurs are known in various support activities in Christchurch.

The AREC North Canterbury Section provided operators from day one for the Civil Defence Emergency Managment Communications at various locations including Waimak EOC (Rangiora), Kaiapoi Welfare Centre, and Pines-Kairaki Welfare Centre (Pines Beach Hall).

Geoff ZL3PX said this support provided by radio amateurs is continuing with over 235 duty hours so far involving about a dozen operators.

Aftershocks are still being felt on an hourly basis and it is wearying to say the least. In the past week there have been 388 seismic shocks recorded ranging from 3 to 5.4 magnitude, with seismologists indicating this activity is showing signs of easing.

National Crisis Management Centre in a Situation Report today listed its priorities as restoration of sewerage services in the worst-affected areas, immediate and long term welfare and housing needs, a growing demand and ongoing need for psychosocial services, business impacts and personal finances, and the need for coordinated, regular communication with the affected communities.

Various specialist resources from throughout New Zealand have been assigned to the earthquake affected areas, such as building inspectors who are determining the safety of damaged homes and commercial buildings.

Authorities believe that most schools should be able to open after being closed for a week. Some road infrastructure remains yet to be repaired. Most power and telephone services were quickly restored.

Shops, pubs and hotels began trading for the first time in a week and Christchurch moves further into recovery mode.

- IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman, Jim Linton VK3PC with support from AREC Assistant National Director Geoff Chapman ZL3PX and others.

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AREC at the ready following big earthquake in New Zealand

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

So far AREC (Amateur Radio Emergency Communications) volunteers have not been required in any major way to assist, following the earthquake that hit Christchurch in New Zealand.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 4.36am local time Saturday 4 September, while most people were asleep in their homes.

The result was extensive building damage in New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, with only two people seriously hurt and no one reported trapped or missing.

AREC Deputy Director, Geoff Chapman ZL3PX who lives in Christchurch, said that while AREC was at the Civil Defence Headquarters, there has been no requirement for it to pass any emergency traffic.

That is due to restoration of telephone and power to the majority of the affected areas. While water and sewerage systems have been affected there has been no reported major loss of roads or bridges.

However AREC is ready, as the situation could worsen with the weather bureau issuing a warning of very strong winds with gusts up to 130km/h and heavy rain posing new threats to already damaged buildings.

Adding to the danger are numerous aftershocks with authorities advising that these will continue for many days or weeks.

The ‘quake is New Zealand’s most damaging since the one which hit Napier (Hawke’s Bay) in February 1931, that saw radio amateurs extensively provide emergency communications.

That led to the formation by the IARU national radio society, the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters (NZART) of what is today known as AREC.

Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3, Disaster Communications Committee.

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Qinghai province earthquake — report 2

Monday, April 19th, 2010

The following information was received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator.

he official toll following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Qinghai province in north west China as at 10am local time 18 April is 1706 deaths and 12,128 people injured. Local authorities estimate that up to 90 percent of buildings collapsed.

The Chinese Radio Sports Association (CRSA) reports that amateur radio rescue teams from An Hui, Qinghai, Beijing, Shandong, Jiangsu, Sichuan provinces have joined the disaster mitigation efforts.

The rescue and recovery efforts following the quake that occurred on 14 April are difficult in the area which is a mountainous plateau more than 4,000 metres above sea level that experiences with very low overnight temperatures.

The amateur radio teams have set up VHF and UHF repeaters to provide quick support communications, 7050kHz and 7060kHz are their main HF QRGs, and sometimes 14270kHz in 20 meter band has been used.

The CRSA is borrowing from its experiences gained in the Great Sichuan earthquake of two years ago. To a avoid traffic jam travelling to the earthquake centre area, the ham radio and other support teams are following the instructions set by the government.

While commercial communications recovered on 15 April in six counties of Yushu district, emergency amateur radio communications teams are continuing to assist the disaster mitigation.

The CRSA thanks those IARU member societies such KARL, JARL, MARTS and HARTS and others who have given their support by translating Qinghai earthquake reports for their local websites and for all in helping keep the emergency frequencies clear.

(Report provided by Fan Bin BA1RB, CRSA Coordinator IARU Region 3. Disaster Communications Committee and Chairman Jim Linton VK3PC)

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High Praise for Radio Club de Chile (RCCH)

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The following is a translation of a Spanish language TV report on the amateur radio response in Chile.

As parts of earthquake-hit Chile again this week were shaken by severe aftershocks there has been further news of the role of radio amateurs, including them being a highly sought after reliable source of information.

A television news report describes them as a collection of dedicated ham radio operators scattered across the country, proving to be an information lifeline during the recent devastating earthquake, tsunami and its aftermath.

Interviewed was RCCH Secretary Alejandro Jara CE3JWF and Director of SER (Servicio de Emergencia de Radioaficionados) Rafael Riesco CE3FFR, the Spanish language report, translated to English said “They were on air within 10 to 15 minutes of the quake – where possible. ”

“While telephones and the internet largely failed, many of the radio operators have back-up power and were able to provide vital lines of communication, picked up by National Radio Chile and rebroadcast, giving status of various affected areas.”

The report added that, “Even where internet still worked, gossip social networking pages could not be trusted, exaggerating and getting things wrong.”

“Ham radio operators of the Radio Club of Chile are more honourable, dedicating many hours of their lives to their radio networks and broadcasting, in some cases, from damaged equipment, even after the collapse of antennas. Thanks to them – Save Chile in a crisis!”

“The ham operator callsign enabled national radio and authorities to trust the information as members of the club have ‘honorable’ status, a great asset in a crisis where messages can get distorted through normal communiciation channels, if available.”

The report went further to say “Claims that ham radio is dying were put to rest as these operators provided such vital communication links, and the operators are voluntary and definitely don’t want to be paid.”

When the massive earthquake struck early February 27, the Red Chilena Nor Austral de Servicios (RECNA) and RCCH networks worked in coordination with the army handling information about locating missing persons, condition of roads and support for the emergency administration.

The magnitude-8.8 earthquake resulted in more than 720 deaths, 1.5 million destroyed homes along with damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The RCCH has expressed its thanks to the world’s radio amateurs for keeping emergency frequencies free during their nation’s time of need. All previously announced HF frequencies are not currently required for emergency communications.

(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee)

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Chile – Final Update

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The following information was received from Greg Mossop, IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator.

Dr. Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P, IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator has release the use of the emergency frecuencies based on information received from Dr. Dino Besomi, CE3PG,President of Radio Club de Chile.

We thank the world radio amateur community for their support in keeping emergency frequencies clear during the past days.

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