A phone conversation with a relief worker earlier this morning indicates one of the most serious problems has been water filtration  into cracked buildings. There is a major concern that schools and hospitals partially damaged will collapse or suffer significant structural damage as a consequence. One has to remember that much construction here is made of adobe, a fine building material when protected from the elements by plaster or stucco but extremely vulnerable to water erosion once that protection is damaged. In addition water damage makes these buildings more vulnerable to the occasional aftershocks still being felt in the coastal and mountain areas. There is a widespread rumor there will be another quake, and as people observe the present damage it makes them more uneasy about consequences of a second major tremor.
     The Oaxacan newspaper Imparcial has been mounting some of its news stories about the quake and flooding on a web page at:      www.imparoax.com.mx/index.html
 
 
 

El Imparcial de Oaxaca -- Spanish
In English: by AltaVista Translations
According to the most recent report of the Secretaría de Protección Civil, 27 persons are confirmed dead. Their names and locations are:

Oaxaca de Juárez Felipe Avila Flores Teresa Cruz García Sra. Cecilia Macés quien perdió el producto de 6 meses de gestación como consecuencia de una crisis nerviosa Santo Domingo Teojomulco, Sola de Vega Violeta Rodriguez Margarita Antonio Antonio Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz Norma Soledad Carreño Cruz

Tuxtepec Mariana Dublán San José el Progreso,Tututepec Adulfa Marcial López Río Grande Tututepec Ofelia Gallardo Palacios Santa Cruz Tututepec Lauro López Santiago San Lorenzo Texmelucan Rogelio Ruiz Pérez La Conchuda, San Agustín Loxicha El niño Timoteo Margarito Santiago San Bartolomé Loxicha El joven Auberto Román Román Tataltepec de Valdez Germán Gómez Díaz La niña Rosa Calixto Jimenez San Pedro Pochutla Juvenal Ríos López Sola de Vega Enriqueta Zárate Peralta San Mateo Yucutindo, Sola de Vega El niño Galindo López Vázquez San Pedro Yaitepec, Juquila Pedro Ruíz Santa Cruz Zenzontepec, Sola de Vega Pedro Romeo Bautista Cinco Cerros, Sta. Cruz Zenzontepec, Sola de Vega Ramón Bolaños López El Mano del Señor, Sta. Cruz Zenzontepec,Sola de Vega Cristina Ortíz Nicolás Piedra Grande, Sta. Cruz Zenzontepec, Sola de Vega Tomás Cruz Maldonado La Concha, Sta. Cruz Zenzontepec, Sola de Vega Laura Bautista Merino Santa María Nutio, San Juan Colorado, Jamiltepec Juan Villa Méndez San José Ozolotepec, Miahuatlán Pablo Ruíz Ruíz

We regret with all our heart the death of these individual and extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.

NOTE: These damages are reported from all over the state and include all types of effects, from the most minimum (which we hope may be the majority), to the gravest damages. As is to be expected, the greatest part of thedamage, injured and dead are on the Coast and in the Sierra Sur, as these are the areas most directly affected by the earthquake.

Attention will be redoubled in the communities of: Temascaltepec, Nopala, Lachao Nuevo, Tututepec, Mixtepec, San Bartolomé Loxicha, Tataltepec de Valdez, Ixtapa, Juquila, Atoyaquillo, Amialtepec, Ixpantepec, Juchatengo, Tetepec and Honduras, among others.

We are proud people - proud of our history, our tradition, our art and our hospitality. We enjoy sharing an appreciation of our bit of paradise and we take good care of our visitors. Even, or perhaps especially, after an unhappy event such as yesterday's earthquake, flooding or other natural phenomena, we are concerned both to protect our livelihood and to ensure the comfort and happiness of our guests. Thus, you will find our friendly service operators - hotels, restaurants, guides, travel agents, artisans - all prepared to receive and attend our visitors with all the comfort and amenities which they deserve.

Telephones, electricity, water, transportation - all services are functioning normally. Damages are being repaired and, for most of us, it is very definitely business as usual. Oaxaca welcomes its visitors now as always.
 

The Oaxaca Visitors and Convention Office, the Hotel and Motel Association, State and City Tourism Offices have asked me to post the following announcement.

We want everyone to be be tranquil and to know that we in the city of Oaxaca continue to receive our visitors as usual. We await your visits on the dates that you desire. Also, we provide the following telephone numbers where you may request additional information:

Oficina de Convenciones y Visitantes de la Ciudad de Oaxaca
+52 (9) 514-2757

Asociacion Mexicana de hoteles y Moteles de Oaxaca, A.C.
+52 (9) 516-2024

Secretaria de Desarrollo Turistico del Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca
+52 (9) 516-1955, 516-0144, 516-0717 and 514-0570

Direccion de Turismo Municipal
+52 (9) 514-5599 and 514-6633

We do not make light of the problems which many in the city, the state and other parts of the republic suffer as a result of this earthquake but we do not want our friends and visitors to believe that things are worse than they really are. Do not cancel your plans to visit our beautiful city for lack of accurate information.

Oaxaca's Forum SISMO / EARTHQUAKE
Mexico: Earthquake in Oaxaca and Guerrero States Information Bulletin No. 3

The Disaster

The 7.6 force earthquake that struck Mexico's Oaxaca amp Guerrero states was the strongest registered in Mexico in over 14 years and serious casualties were avoided only because of the relatively low population density in the area of the epicentre. A further tremor of 4.8 on Friday added to tensions. Nonetheless, the damage to those areas impacted is significant and is now becoming available as local government and Mexican Red Cross rescue and assessment teams send in further information. As of Sunday, 3 October 1999, the following confirmed statistics were available from the field and the Mexican Seismic Institution, SINAPROC: 18 fatalities (16 in Oaxaca state, one in Vera Cruz and one in Mexico federal district); 47 injured; 418 displaced persons in seven shelters; 300 houses destroyed and approximately 3,500 damaged. Serious damage is so far reported in Puerto Escondido, Jamiltepec, Tutultepec, Pinotepa Nacional and Santa Mariacutea Colotepec. Those affected are receiving assistance from members of the army, Red Cross and other relief organisations. In Santa Mariacutea, 300 houses are reported to be completely destroyed. In San Pedro Tututepec, 20 communities are isolated because of the floods. According to the Red Cross evaluation team reporting at 19:h30 local time on 1 October 1999, approximately 3,000 buildings have been registered as damaged, with half considered seriously damaged. In Juquila, Oaxaca, one hospital was evacuated and the state hospital was damaged but is operational. Assessment and rescue efforts are being hampered by heavy rains and flooding which have destroyed bridges in Mixetepec, cutting off communities in Bajos de Tilan and San Pedro Tutuepec. Red Cross/Red Crescent Action

The Mexican Red Cross Assessment teams, co-ordinating with the Air Force and military units, are slowly providing reports from the damaged areas though communication remains difficult. Two teams are operational, one in the Puerto Escondido area of Oaxaca state and another in Guerrero. The co-ordinator for disaster response, also a State Delegate, is providing specific information as it is received from the teams, but confirms that the conditions the teams are experiencing in the field will continue to limit full assessment details. In the meantime, in consultation with the senior management of the Mexican Red Cross, a Federation delegate has been deployed and is now in Mexico to provide support to the National Society in the affected region. The immediate task of the delegate is to ascertain if and what further assistance may be required by the National Society, and to co-ordinate with other Participating National Societies in the field. The Canadian Red Cross has started to accept donations for the earthquake and the American Red Cross is maintaining support as reported in previous Information Bulletins. Needs

After certain natural disasters the best resource for locating people is:
SATERN Health and Welfare Information Request
This is run by the Salvation Army and is very good.
We have recieved thank you's from several people who have used this resource.
http://www.angelfire.com/il/satern411/fremail.html

Photo courtousy of El IMPARCIAL fotograph Naxit Lopez
 

PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION
REPORT FOLLOWS BELOW IN SPANISH
Regional Office of the
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
 

EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO
REPORT 2 - 1 OCTOBER
========================
This report is also available on our Web site:
www.paho.org/english/ped/peddeal.htm.
 

On 1 October, the Pan American Health Organization met with the following national authorities in México: Directorate of Emergencies and Disasters of the Secretary of Health (Dr. Esteban Rodríguez), the Director of Special Projects of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), and the Directorate of Emergency Management of the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) who provided the following information:

THE SECRETARIAT OF HEALTH

Yesterday's earthquake (30 September) caused 18 deaths nationwide. As of 10:00 am today, 1 October, damages to hospital infrastructure were confined to the Juquila Hospital, in the State of Oaxaca, where 12 beds were lost and in the General Hospital in the City of Oaxaca, which suffered only superficial cracks and continues to function normally.

Five medical teams consisting of physicians and nurses had previously been sent from Mexico City to help the health authorities in Oaxaca meet the needs of flood victims; these teams are now attending to those affected by the earthquake. The Emergency Directorate is awaiting assessment reports from these medical teams once they are able to reach the communities that have been isolated by landslides. The medical teams are being transported by helicopter. Currently, there are sufficient human resources and materials to manage this emergency and it has not been necessary to request assistance from other states in Mexico.

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SECURITY (IMSS)

The Director of the Special Projects Program of IMSS' Medical Directorate informed PAHO that the only damages in their facilities to date are non-structural damages to the IMSS Hospital in Huatulco, State of Oaxaca. However, this did not justify evacuation or closing, and the hospital continues to function normally. Today, two infrastructure experts were deployed to evaluate the other installations. They will be reporting back to PAHO.

NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR CIVIL PROTECTION (SINAPROC)

SINAPROC's Director of Emergency Management informed PAHO that there have been 18 deaths (16 in Oaxaca; 1 in Veracruz; and 1 in Mexico City), 47 injured in Oaxaca, and as of 2:00 pm today, there were seven shelters in the State of Oaxaca accommodating 418 people. Preliminary damage reports show approximately 300 homes were totally destroyed and 2,800 homes were damaged. Another two hospitals in the City of Oaxaca have non-structural damages and continue functioning.

PAHO is maintaining permanent contact with the national authorities during the next 72 hours and any significant changes will be reported.

**************************************************************************
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ORGANIZACION PANAMERICANA DE LA SALUD
Oficina Regional de la
ORGANIZACION MUNDIAL DE LA SALUD
 

TERREMOTO EN MEXICO
INFORME 2 - 1 DE OCTUBRE
========================
Este informe también se encuentra en nuestra página web:
www.paho.org/spanish/ped/peddeal.htm. Visítenos.
 

El 1o de octubre la Organización Panamericana de la Salud se estableció los contactos con las authoridades en México: Dirección de Emergencias y Desastres de la Secretaría de Salud (Dr. Esteban Rodríguez), con el Director de Proyectos Especiales de la Dirección Médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), y con la Dirección de Administración de Emergencias del Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil (SINAPROC) de la Secretaría de Gobernación, quienes brindaron la siguiente información:

SECRETARIA DE SALUD

El impacto del sismo del 30 de septiembree no produjo pérdidas de vidas mayores, ya que la cifra de defunciones se mantiene en 18 personas a nivel nacional. Los daños a la infraestructura hospitalaria, hasta las 10:00 AM, era de la inhabilitación del Hospital de Juquila, Estado de Oaxaca, donde quedaron inhabilitadas 12 camas. El Hospital General de la Ciudad de Oaxaca solo sufrió unas pocas grietas superficiales, por lo que continúa operando en forma normal. En el Estado de Oaxaca se encontraban ya 5 Brigadas con personal médico y de enfermería enviados desde el Distrito Federal para colaborarle a la Secretaría Estatal de Oaxaca en l atención de los afectados por las fuertes inundaciones, las cuales continúan atendiendo ahora a los afectados por el sismo, Debido a este desplazamiento previo, la Dirección De Emergencias considera que no es necesario su desplazamiento a dicho Estado, y esperaran a que les envíen mayor información una vez que estas brigadas puedan llegar a muchas de las comunidades que se encuentran aisladas por los deslizamientos en las carreteras, las cuales están siendo transportadas en helicópteros del Ejercito Nacional. Por el momento cuentan con los suficientes recursos humanos y materiales para manejar esta emergencia y no han tenido que solicitar ayuda de otros Estados.

INSTITUTO MEXICANO DEL SEGURO SOCIAL

El Director del Programa de Proyectos Especiales de la Dirección Médica del IMSS informó que los únicos daños estructurales reportados hasta el momento en su infraestructura, eran daños no estructurales en el Hospital del IMSS en Huatulco, Estado de Oaxaca, pero que estos no ameritaban ni su evacuación ni cierre, por lo que continuaba operando normalmente. En el día de hoy se desplazaron dos peritos en infraestructura para valorar las otras instalaciones. Al momento que reciban esta información la compartirán con la OPS.

SISTEMA NACIONAL DE PROTECCION CIVIL "SINAPROC"

El Director de Administración de Emergencias del SINAPROC informó a la OPS que los fallecidos son 18 (16 en Oaxaca, 1 en Veracruz y 1 el D.F.), 47 lesionados en Oaxaca, y a las 14:00 horas de hoy tienen 7 albergues en el Estado de Oaxaca con 418 personas albergadas. El informe preliminar de daños reporta aproximadamente 300 casas totalmente destruidas y 2,800 con daños parciales. Tienen información de otros 2 hospitales en la ciudad de Oaxaca con daños no estructurales, pero que continúan operando.

La OPS se mantendrá el contacto permanente durante las próximas 72 horas con las Autoridades Nacionales y se informará si se presentan cambios sustanciales.

Servicio Sismologico Nacional -- Spanish

En Cruz Roja Mexicana tu donativo es lo más importante -- Spanish For the Mexican Red Cross your donatiion is most important.
After we got word of the earthquake we set up a page at the Disaster Center web site to provide information about the disaster. Generally, The Disaster Center only reports about disasters that occur in the United States. We have made exceptions to this policy for major disasters occurring in the Caribbean, Central America and in Mexico.

As time goes by we hope to be able to update our site to provide full coverage to these areas. One problem that we have involves the language. Our site is based out of the State of Alaska. The internet provides us with ways of connecting where geographic limitations can be to some extent over come, but the language issues are difficult.  In all disaster situations we rely on local correspondents for information.

The first disaster outside of the United States we reported about was Hurricane Pauline. During Hurricane Pauline we observed some of the worst things that happen with disaster response in Mexico. The beaches were cleaned while people were facing the cold and starvation in isolated areas without blankets or food. The resorts remained open, but at a real cost in human lives.

The problem remains the same.  Oaxaca, is one of the poorest Mexican States and the tourism business is very import to it's economy.  There is a tendency in such a situation to minimize the disaster so as not to affect the tourism industry.  Yet, it is our opinion that individuals should not interrupt their vacation plans to visit the area.  Almost all areas of interest to the tourist remain safe and open.  If anything we would like it if more tourists would travel to the area. As the economy needs the infusion of cash that the tourist brings with them.

We know that an earthquake of this magnitude is capable of causing great damage. We know that the degree of aid that will be given is driven by the publics awareness of the disaster; and that the media attention span is very short.

As far as the outside media is concerned, the earthquake story is now off the map. For the media in the United States it is no longer a story. Yet, it does not take any imagination to know that real human needs are still not being met in the disaster area.

We would still like to help promote awareness about the disaster. We thank those who have provided us with information for use on our web site and for those who still are in need you are in our thoughts.

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