Ethnos affiliates are moving to respond to relief needs in the wake of a major earthquake in Sulawesi Friday.

The quake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, spawned a tsunami and was responsible for more than 1,000 deaths. Bridges are out, and landslides have closed other roads in and out of the island’s major city. The airport is closed except for military and humanitarian flights. Damage in the area is widespread. Communications are down.

All personnel of Ethnos Canada and its affiliates are accounted for and unharmed. Several have already been relocated from the worst-hit areas.

However, our offices there, which also house a guest facility and supply hub, have been severely damaged. We are still assessing the damage; current estimates for repair or replacement range from the tens of thousands to $300,000.

Ethnos360 Aviation is expected to begin assisting with assessment and relief operations, in coordination with other organizations, on Tuesday.

Pray that all critical needs will be located in the assessment and met in relief efforts. Pray that we are able to move appropriate resources to Sulawesi to meet the needs there.

If you would like to help, you may make a gift to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund. Your gifts are particularly important now, as the fund has been depleted by our response to typhoons in the Philippines.