No fatalities were reported, but the undersea quake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale. The temblor caused already traumatized residents to fear a repeat of the deadly March 28th earthquake.
The residents, including those living in shelters, rushed to higher ground for fear of a tsunami.
An HCJB World Radio medical team from Ecuador was recently on the ground providing relief and establishing the support network. The 'how' they got there is a story worth repeating.
An HCJB team had just wrapped up tsunami relief work in the area. Hours before the March 28th quake struck, the HCJB team had flown to Sumatra Island and were headed home.
Upon hearing of the new disaster, they turned around and went back to see where they could help. Then, just days later, a second quake struck.
HCJB's Sheila Leech is thankful for the privilege of returning to Nias to minister to quake victims. "I just see God's hand in an amazing way in that we were taken off this island and brought back again. I just see that God's hand is provident. I'm not sure that if we had stayed here Monday night, if we would still be alive today."
Team member Brad Quist says their second Nias return required prayer, as it followed a helicopter crash that killed nine people. But his bigger concern was for the people he met there. "Most of all pray for the people of Nias Island. Over 50 percent of them are Christian and ten to 20 percent of them are now without homes."
As the ministry broadens its scope, team members are establishing an Asia Pacific region based in Singapore.
