EERI Reconnaissance Team Report Now Available

Download the report (1.3Mb PDF) by clicking here.

Initial Observations

Initial reports from EERI members and colleagues who have already been in the field indicate that much of the structural damage in this event has occurred in engineered structures. According to Dr. Dyah Kusumastuti, who is a former MCEER student and now on the faculty at the Technical Institute of Bandung, the collapse mechanisms of the buildings in Padang are mostly classic examples of pancake collapse, soft story, and weak story. EERI member Teddy Boen also concurs that this is one of the first earthquakes in Indonesia with significant damage to engineered structures.

Check back frequently for updates once our team is on the ground.

News, Photos, Videos from MCEER

Information compiled on Indonesian earthquakes by Information Service of MCEER:

Click HERE to view.

Satellite-based Damage Assessment Maps Available

A series of satellite-based damage assessment maps are available from the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information, a project of the German Aerospace Center.

There are currently 10 maps in the series, available by clicking here.

• Satellite Map – Preliminary Damage Assessment Map of City of Padang, Northern Part, Indonesia, 1:10.000
• Satellite Map – Preliminary Damage Assessment Map of City of Padang, Southern Part, Indonesia, 1:10.000
• Reported Building Damage: Detail Map of City of Padang, Indonesia, 1:7.50
• Reported Building Damage: Overview Map of City of Padang, Indonesia, 1:75.000
• Potential Building Damage: Map of Padang, Indonesia, 1:15.000
• Population Map of Padang, Indonesia, Southern Part, with building damages as of October 1, 2009, 1:15.000
• Population Map of Padang, Indonesia, Northern part, with building damages as of October 1, 2009, 1:15.000
• Situation Map of Padang, Indonesia, Northern part, with building damages as of October 1, 2009, 1:15.000
• Situation Map of Padang, Indonesia, Southern Part, with building damages as of October 1, 2009, 1:15.000

Initial Damage Photos from Kerry Sieh

Professor Kerry Sieh, Director, Earth Observatory Of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, was able to travel to Padang in the immediate days following the earthquake. Below are several of his photos:

EERI Reconnaissance Team to Padang

Under the leadership of Professor Greg Deierlein of Stanford University, a team of researchers and practitioners from various fields are traveling to Padang, Indonesia.  The team left Wednesday, October 7th and should be in the field by October 10th.  Team members include:

• Greg Deierlein, Stanford University TEAM LEADER
• Nick Alexander, Degenkolb Engineers
• Veronica Cedillos, Geohazards Intl
• Louise Comfort, University of Pittsburgh
• Tim Hart, Forell Elsesser
• Elizabeth Hausler, Build Change
• Scott Henderson, Consulting Engineer
• Kelly Wood, Stanford University

Assuming reliable internet access, the team hopes to post entries to this blog from the field.  Check back frequently for updates.

Funding support for this reconnaissance is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation.  Additional support provided by Degenkolb Engineers, Forell Elsesser, the Blume Center of Stanford University and the University of Pittsburgh.