04/20/2016
In the wake of the April 16 earthquake in Ecuador, International Amateur Radio
Union Region 2 Emergency Coordinator Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK, reported on April 20
that he has spoken with Lorenzo Lertora, HC2BP, the president of the Guayaquil
Radio Club - Ecuador's IARU member society. The Amateur Radio community has
been asked to keep 7.060 MHz clear for any emergency traffic. The 7.8 magnitude
earthquake resulted in dozens of deaths and many more injuries. Most earthquake
damage has occurred in the Guayaquil (HC2) and Portoviejo/Manta (HC4) areas of
Ecuador.
"He described de situation as very difficult," Santoyo recounted. "There is no
electric power in HC4, the earthquake zone, so the radio amateurs there have
not been able to get on the air." Santoyo said he learned that the president of
Manabí Radio Club was among those losing their homes as a result of the
earthquake.
Radio amateurs are attempting to make do in a difficult situation, Santoyo
said. Electrical power and commercial telecommunication systems have been
either destroyed or knocked out in the affected area, and hams in the HC4
district were reported earlier to be operating mobile stations or using battery
power.
Santoyo reported some "tense moments" between the government responders and the
radio amateurs because of the "many inefficiencies" they are finding while
trying to help.
"He [Lertora] didn't comment on this morning's 6.1 magnitude aftershock," he
added.
Santoyo said he is hoping to hear more as the situation begins to improve in
the earthquake zone.
Some structures in Portoviejo and Manta suffered severe damage, leaving many
victims buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings and homes. Many roads have
been rendered impassable because of earthquake rubble.
The Cadena HC emergency net was reported operating continuously on 7.060 LSB.
Hams in Ecuador have been reported very busy coordinating search-and-rescue
activities. - Thanks to Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK, and to Rick Dorsch, NE8Z/HC1MD
via The Daily DX[1]
[1] http://www.dailydx.com/
---
■ Synchronet ■ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS
|
