Tsunami Decimates San Juan Bautista
(This page will be updated as more information becomes available)
Latest update: 3 March 09:25 MST (16:25 GMT)
San Juan Bautista is the only community on Isla Robinson Crusoe, exclusive home of the Juan Fernández Firecrown hummingbird. The village was heavily damaged--in places swept completely clear--by the tsunami created by Chile's massive earthquake on the morning of February 27, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale. Isla Robinson Crusoe is one of three islands comprising the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Residents of San Juan Bautista have been instrumental in the joint efforts of the Hummingbird Society and Oikonos, conservation organizations who have worked hard in recent years to prevent the critically endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown from becoming extinct. Many of these conscientious residents who helped us so much with Firecrown protection efforts are now facing complete loss of home and possessions.
ADDED: A short video created by Thomas Kaminiski describing the Firecrown's predicament is available here; it shows scenes of the town and island pre-tsunami.
Those individuals who have been working on our conservation efforts with CONAF (Chilean Forest Service) and Oikonos have also been endangered by the tsunami. So far we have incomplete information on the status of all of them.
The tsunami hit Isla Robinson Crusoe very soon after the earthquake, due to its proximity to the mainland (just over 400 miles), minimizing the time to provide adequate warning (more below). Such a warning was never issued by the government.
As for the people: So far 8 individuals are dead, and 11 are reported missing. These numbers are tentative, and we suspect they will rise. The total community population was about 700 prior to the tsunami.
ADDED: Interview with Peter Hodum of Oikonos, our conservation partner
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2010/03/100303_robinson_crusoe_island_wt_sl.shtml
ADDED: Newscasts with video interviews of survivors (Spanish)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQpTBjafpCg
ADDED: Extensive images of the damage--these really tell the story
http://www.latercera.com/contenido/683_20725_7.shtml
ADDED: Video of the town, interviews with survivors (Spanish)
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/latest-updates-on-chiles-earthquake/
ADDED: First images are now available
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-414459
On the neighboring island of Selkirk, also part of the archipelago, there is no word on the small community (about 40) there. Since it is less than 5 meters above sea level, it was at high risk.
As for the town: the only school in town, government buildings, and many if not most homes are destroyed, since the majority are less than 100 feet above sea level. In the first images from the island (see above), the pier remains standing, important for ships that will be bringing supplies.
IMPORTANT: HOW YOU CAN HELP the residents of San Juan Bautista
OIKONOS, our conservation partner, has established a fund to help in the recovery. All (100%) of donations will go directly to aid, and nothing will be withheld for overhead or other expenses. You can make a donation by going to the Oikonos website.
Please make donations directly to Oikonos for this effort and not to the Hummingbird Society, although donations to protect the Firecrown can be made here.
About the village of San Juan Bautista
The Executive Director of the Hummingbird Society visited Isla Robinson Crusoe in October 2008, along with photographer Juan Bahamón and videographer Thomas Kaminski, to assess progress in protecting the Firecrown. Photographs below paint a picture of this peaceful community before the tsunami struck.
San Juan Bautista sits along the shore of Cumberland Bay, on the northeast side of Isla Robinson Crusoe. It was the first island to be hit by the tsunami that originated near the town of Concepción, some 400 km south of Santiago, the capital of Chile. Below is shown a map of Isla Robinson Crusoe, carved in wood and displayed as visitors arrive in the village from visiting ships.
Note Cumberland Bay, which shows as an indentaion on the northeast coastline of the Island. The village of San Juan Bautista lies along the shoreline of Cumberland Bay. A good map may be seen at this link. The island is small, only about 10 miles (16 km) wide.
Here is the view of San Juan Bautista taken from just off the coast.
Photo taken October 2008, showing San Juan Bautista buildings. Note that few homes are far from sea level. The mountain in the center, El Yunque, has many the Firecrown's nesting sites, which, fortunately are high enough to have avoided damage from the tsunami (unconfirmed as of 3/1/10).
In the center of the village is a gong, to be rung in emergencies. According to one press report, many lives were saved when 12-year old Martina Maturana received a telephone call from her grandfather in the town of Valparaiso on the continent. By banging on the gong, she awakened many and the word spread, saving many lives. Martina will forever be a hero.
