Canada issues serious advisory for popular Asian destination
Canadians travelling to Indonesia are being warned to be extra careful when travelling to the popular tourist destination.
The Government of Canada recently updated its travel advisory for Indonesia, warning Canadians of two deadly earthquakes that struck the country on Friday, Aug. 14.
“A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck near Flores Island, off the northern coast of East Nusa Tenggara province,” reads the statement. “They caused casualties and significant damage to infrastructure.”
Reuters reports that at least 47 people were killed, and rescue attempts in Nagekeo have been hindered due to landslides that have blocked roads. Some of the hardest hit areas include Maumere, a port town, where 20 people were found dead, with six injured and two people trapped under rubble. The epicentre was in Ende, the capital of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, which is located east of Bali, and tsunami waves of less than three feet were recorded in several areas of the country.
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There have been reports of damage to homes, warehouses, and government buildings.
According to the advisory, local authorities are currently responding to the situation and assessing “the full extent of the damage.”
More earthquakes and aftershocks are expected in and around the affected area, with authorities warning of further damage to already weakened structures. As a result of the earthquakes, some regions have seen major disruptions to transportation, power supply, water and food supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services, and access to medical care.
Canadians who are already in the affected area are urged to follow instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders. Make sure to monitor local media for updates and to avoid entering weakened or damaged structures “until local authorities have deemed them safe.”
Check the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website for aftershock forecasts.