How to Donate for Sumatra Earthquake Victims

Update 17 October 2009: Scroll-down for Donation via SMS through all major telecom networks (Telkomsel, Indosat, XL, Esia, Axis, Telkom Flexi)

The 7.6 richter scale earthquake in Padang, West Sumatra or known in Indonesian as Gempa Sumatra has consumed a lot of attention from every nook and corner of lives.
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Sumatra Quake Death Toll rises into 1,100

PADANG, Indonesia — Rescue workers pulled victims, some screaming in pain, from the heavy rubble of buildings felled by a powerful earthquake that a government official said killed at least 777 people. The U.N. put the death toll at 1,100 and said it was likely to rise.

Jawa Pos meanwhile reports the Sumatra quake toll rises into 1,100 people death. This following news from AP seems a bit late:

The brunt of Wednesday’s 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which originated in the sea off Sumatra island, appeared to have been borne by the city of Padang, where a government official said most the deaths occurred.

The region was jolted by another powerful earthquake Thursday morning, causing damage but no reported fatalities.

More than 500 buildings including hotels, schools, hospitals and a mall were destroyed or damaged in Padang. Thousands of people were still believed to be trapped in the rubble, said Rustam Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry’s crisis center. Workers used backhoes to shift debris.

Earthquake rocks western Indonesia

Update October 1, 11.30 PM: SCTV reports the dead victims reaches 530 people. Presiden SBY said this quake in Padang, West Sumatra is bigger than the one in Yogyakarta.

Update October 1, 7.20 am: Metro TV reports about 75 people are reportedly dead so far.

Update September 30: Detik.com reports that there are at least four people reportedly dead.

A powerful quake brings down houses on Indonesia’s Sumatra, AFP reports

Indonesia’s meteorological agency says a powerful earthquake has shaken western Indonesia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

The Indonesian agency said the tremor had a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicenter was just off the coast of Sumatra

The U.S. Geological Survey put the strength at 7.9.

CNN gives more details:

The quake was recorded about 33 miles from Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra, which is home to more than 800,000 people.

… The quake struck at about 5 p.m. local time.

Several buildings in Padang were damaged, Metro TV reported. People were seen running out of their homes and toward the hills.

TVOne pictures from the scene showed people milling around outside in the city.

Phone lines were apparently down in many parts of Padang. Indonesia’s Tempo Interactive, a media outlet based in Jakarta, had trouble reaching its correspondent in the West Sumatra city, according to journalist Purwani Diyah Prabandari.

“I hope it’s just the cell phone connection,” Prabandari told CNN.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a tsunami watch for Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia, but canceled it soon after.

The temblor did generate a tsunami just under one foot high, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.