IAEM Oceania

Location:Sydney, Australia

Date(s): 11-12 October, 2010

Organiser: WCDM

Cost: SuperSaver Discount AUD789 (plus 10% applicable taxes) until 31 July, 2010

Contact: Anita Carley

Web: Conference Page

Description:

I've been passed this brief video interview of Tony Pearce, Director General of Emergency Management Australia. The interview is by IIR Australia.

I'm passing on details of competition in Australia that is being run by the Attorney-General's Department along a theme of Emergency Management Volunteers. Details quoted below and in the attachment.

The second Situation Report from OCHA is now publicly available. It was released at 2009-09-30 2000 Fiji time. The key details have been quoted below. A pdf is available for download.

Highlights/Key Priorities

• Death toll in Western Samoa has risen to 62 and is expected to rise
• Northern Tonga also affected with 6 confirmed dead. A State of Emergency has been declared for Niuatoputapu

Source: SmartTraveller.gov.au

On 30 September 2009 (AEST) an earthquake near Samoa caused a tsunami to strike Samoa. Australians in Samoa requiring consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on + 61 2 6261 3305. Australians with concerns for family or friends in Samoa should first try to contact them directly. If they are unable to be contacted or you hold fears for their safety, you can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.

Source: SmartTraveller.gov.au

Australians (and possibly Canadians if there are any) can get assistance from the Australian High Commission:

Australian High Commission
Beach Road
Apia, Samoa
Telephone: (685) 23 411
Facsimile: (685) 23 159
Website: http://www.samoa.highcommission.gov.au

The first Situation Report from OCHA is now publicly available. It was released at 2009-09-30 1130 Fiji time. The key details have been quoted below. A pdf is available for download.

Highlights/Key Priorities

An earthquake of magnitude 8.3 and depth 33 kms struck in the Samoa Islands Region, coordinates 15.3 SOUTH, 171.0 WEST at approximately 1748 GMT 29 SEP (5.48 am 30 Sept Fiji time).

This earthquake did generate a Tsunami. Forecast heights were between .7 and 1.57m.

Source: Australians injured in tsunami

A number of Australians have been injured after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the South Pacific island nation of Samoa, the federal government says. "The early reports don't suggest that any of them are very serious, but they are in hospital," parliamentary secretary for international development assistance Bob McMullan told Sky News.

Source: New Zealand Government

NZ ready to assist after Samoan earthquake, tsunami

New Zealand stands ready to assist Samoa and the wider Pacific region following the earthquake this morning and reports of a tsunami, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

"New Zealand's diplomatic missions throughout the Pacific are in contact with local authorities to gather as much information as possible on the situation and how New Zealand may be able to assist," Mr McCully said.

We're trying to track information about the tsunami and earthquake here.