Indonesia: Ban Ki-moon voices concern over earthquake and possible tsunami

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his deep concern over the potential consequences of today’s earthquake – and the tsunami which may follow – off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island.

A team from Banda Aceh comprising members of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other UN staff will depart for an initial assessment in the next few hours, according to a statement released by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson. The Asia-Pacific UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) team is also on alert to travel if necessary.

Dozens of people lost their lives in strong tremors this March in Sumatra. The island was also devastated by an earthquake and ensuing tsunami in December 2004, which killed more than 270,000 people in 12 countries across the Indian Ocean region.