[South Florida DX Association] FW: [The Daily DX] VU4 - update - December 27 1130Z

[Esteban Romagni]

This was send From Bernie W3UR...
-----Original Message-----
From: dailydx-bounces at kkn.net [mailto:dailydx-bounces at kkn.net]On Behalf
Of Bernie McClenny
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 7:40 AM
To: 'The Daily DX mailing List'; 'The Weekly DX mailing List'
Subject: [The Daily DX] VU4 - update - December 27 1130Z



Here is an update on the current situation in the Andaman Islands.  The news
agencies are now reporting estimates of over 20,000 feared to be dead from
the tsunami (tidal wave) which took place in the Bay of Bengal on December
26th.  Estimates range from two to five thousand in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.  Since the initial 9.0 earthquake some 18 aftershocks have taken
place (http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/) split between the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.  The most recent one was a 6.1 just before 0100Z today.

The VU4 team continues to pass traffic and occasionally hand out QSOs.  It
is fortuitous that this DXpedition took place during this time fame.  If
there is a positive aspect to this disaster, it may very well be that the
Indian government (and others) realizes the ability of Amateur Radio during
these difficult times.

VU2MUE, Sandeep Baruah, reports there are now two emergency Frequencies that
have been established.  VU4NRO, the team at Port Blair, will be QRV on or
near 14190.  The club station (VU2NRO) in Hyderabad back on the mainland
will be taking QSPs for Port Blair.

VU2DVO, D.V.R.K. Murthy, and VU2JOS, Jose Jacob, are now in Port Blair.
Reports now indicate that some phone lines are working but there is still no
water or electricity at the Hotel Sinclair, home of the VU4 station.

The most devastated area is Car Nicobar and up until this point has been
totally "cut off".  It is possible that Amateur Radio operators may be
traveling to this area, after obtaining "clearance" from the local
authorities.  VU2HFR, club station VU2NCT and VU2MUE are all helping with
the efforts to pass emergency traffic to Port Blair.

For those of you asking about Charley, K4VUD, he is now reportedly back on
the Indian mainland.

The following VU4 news update (Monday 1130Z)came from 9V1YC, James.

1. They were allowed back into the damaged building this afternoon, and
despite continued aftershocks Bharathi is bravely operating on the 5th floor
using the yagi.  Local telephones in the building are also working again.

2. Commercial power is coming back slowly, but they are still using battery
power most of the time.

3. The island authorities have asked the DXpedition team for relief
communications help.  They have asked them to set up one station at the
deputy commissioner's (DC) office in Port Blair, and another one out on the
remote Nicobar Islands.  The army will be flying VU2MYH and VU2DVO out to
the Nicobar Islands tomorrow with 3 days food, one rig, batteries and an
inverted vee.

4. VU2RSB will be manning the station at the DC's office in Port Blair, and
Bharathi will be manning the station at the current DXpedition site until
further notice.

5. Nobody on the island is sleeping indoors anymore because of continued
aftershocks.  They had another large 6.3 tremor this morning as we spoke.

6. They are suspending the DXpedition for the time being, but Bharathi is
still promising to hand out the contacts once the emergency communications
work is finished.

7. They have asked the authorities for an extension of the DXpedition, but
so far this has not been granted.  This decision may change due to the
relief communications work they are supplying.  Bharathi will be leaving on
1 Jan regardless, and if any extension is granted RSB and MYH will stay
behind for another week.











Thanks 9V1YC, K2FF, VA3ORI, WA6KAH

Bernie McClenny, W3UR

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