As of 7:00 a.m. Philippines local time today (Sunday 11th August ), the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) has activated HERO ARES centered on 7.095 MHz. We have advised local clubs to activate local nets at 144.740 MHz.

Typhoon Labuyo has a big circulation – estimated at 600 kilometers. It has gustiness from 165 to 200 kilometers per hour.

An urgent request is made for the usual cooperation of our neighbors in the IARU Region 3 to keep clear from the emergency frequency.

Thanks.

Ramon, DU1UGZ
Vice COO, PARA

Hi,
The following has been received from Region 3.

73,
Greg, G0DUB 
IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co – Ordinator 

Typhoon alert – frequencies in use

The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) has activated its Emergency Net to monitor tropical typhoon Rumba (Phils codename Gorio) as it traverses the Eastern Visayas Region in the general direction of the Bicol and NCR regions.

Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) operators are using 7.095 MHZ as the emergency calling frequency.

PARA is therefore requesting neighboring ham operators and their national associations for their utmost understanding and cooperation to stand clear of the frequency until the emergency net is stood down.

Ramon J Anquilan, DU1UGZ
PARA Vice COO

The rescue and relief efforts after Saturday’s southwest China Ya’an earthquake is continuing with the number of lives lost officially at 188 people, 25 are missing and 11,460 injured.

While radio amateurs continue to help with relief efforts, Fan Bin BA1RB says that public communication is back to normal in the disaster area.

He said the CRSA/CRAC no longer required 3855kHz, 7050kHz and 14270kHz as
emergency communication frequencies. It expressed thanks for the support from IARU member societies and others during the disaster.

It rained in the earthquake area last night. Effective traffic control has been very important to transport tents, water, foods and medicines into the area.

The rural communities around Ya’an city are along the same seismic fault where the Great Sichuan Earthquake killed more than 90,000 people five years ago, in one of China’s worst natural disasters.

The latest earthquake on Saturday left tens of thousands of people in tents or cars, unable to return home or too afraid to go back as aftershocks continued.

Badly hit Lushan County is now a large refugee camp, with tents set up and
volunteers providing meals.

(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman of the IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications
Committee with help of Fin Ban BA1RB) 

The earthquake has killed 179 people and injured 6986.  Hundreds of amateur
radio operators went to Ya’an helping disaster relief.

The disaster happened as the Global Simulated Emergency Test was underway
headed in China by station BY3CQ and others – BG8EIU, BG8FCK, BG8DE, BG8FPB,
BY8DX, BH8AHU, BA8IK and BG8EBB – who are now either helping on HF, VHF or
in the disaster area.

Fan Bin BA1RB contacted this morning Liu Hu BD8AAA who is in the epicentre
at Lushan county.

The following updates are available:
1. Public communication is normal in Ya’an and Lushan, the UHF and VHF repeaters
work fine to provide effective communication. While in some remote rural
areas, the communication is still needed to be established. Amateur Radio
teams are actively helping build up the communications.

2. The government has more experiences to organise the disaster relief, amateur
radio operators were organised and provided help based on government needs.

3. Because suddenly there are too many vehicles coming into Ya’an city and
Lushan county, the transportation traffic condition is sevethe re. There are
8 amateur radio teams, more than 200 amateur radio operators helping local
transportation department to relieve traffic congestion.

The request to keep the HF frequencies of 3855kHz, 7050kHz and 14270kHz clear
for disaster traffic remains.

The Sichuan amateur radio association took immediate action with BA8DX (not
BD8DX as earlier report) and BD8AAA leading a team heading to the disaster
area.

73 de BA1RB / Fanbin