Following the devastating earthquake that has claimed over 2,800 lives in Zamastan, hundreds of whom were foreign citizens, leaders across the IDU have offered condolences and support for the Zamastanian government and its people. Among the reactions of the global community, President Tyagi-Kennedy of the United New England was one of the first to respond, stating "New Englanders were deeply saddened to hear of today’s earthquake in Zamastan. We mourn the deaths of the many victims who were taken by this sudden tragedy, and our hearts go out to the grieving survivors. We are ready to provide monetary and medical aid wherever it is needed."
Chancellor Hendry of Sanctaria posted on social media stating that she was "wholeheartedly saddened to hear of (the) earthquake off the coast of Zamastan." She also stated that her "thoughts ae with the victims and their families," as well as that "President Bishop and the government" could "count on Sanctarian assistance". The Chancellor is convening an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the disaster, and Sanctarian Foreign Secretary Brian Young announced that he will meet with the relief organization SanctariaAid to discuss emergency deployment of aid workers. The government of Sanctaria is also working to establish how many Sanctarians were affected by the quake. The Zamastanian government is in cooperation with all foreign governments to get accurate and up to date statements on how many foreign nationals were affected by the quake.
The Prime Minister of Gardavasque, Yorick Spence, who attended the Tofino Summit, pledged aid to Zamastan, and also stated that a team of search and rescue specialists are standing by if requested by the Zamastanian government.
Other nations have mentioned support and thoughts in press conferences, and many more official statements are expected to be coming in the next few days. On the evening of Saturday, president Lucas Brown of Libertas Omnium Maximus stated in a social media post that "The thoughts and prayers of our nation go out to all of the individuals effected by the horrible earthquake that has struck Zamastan. I cannot stress enough how upsetting this is to watch. The Zamastanians are resilient people and I wish them all the best in rebuilding. God Bless."
Trivian Emperor Yuri Yakovlev, Xiomeran Emperor Topilpopoca, and the Chancellor of Eiria have also expressed their condolences and are expected to release official statements of condolences and solidarity. This comes at a time where all three nations are participating in mediation to end a trade war between Zamastan and Xiomera, and the quake is bound to play into a sincerity factor during the ongoing talks.
As day break arrived on Sunday, September 1st, the official death toll from the Zamastanian government was at 2,893 people. The number is still expected to climb. The State Department also released numbers of the believed fatalities of foreign nationals as part of their coordination efforts with the global community to identify victims. Part of the efforts involves transport back to their native countries if they permanently reside out of Zamastan or were only in Zamastan as tourists at the time of the quake and were effected to a physical or monetary degree.
Gardavasque: 49 citizens killed
Laeral: 42 citizens killed
Cadair: 40 citizens killed
Gladysynthia: 38 citizens killed
Libertas Omnium Maximus: 28 citizens killed
United New England: 25 citizens killed
Trive: 22 citizens killed
Eiria: 22 citizens killed
Vulkaria: 20 citizens killed
Lauchenoiria: 17 citizens killed
Sanctaria: 14 citizens killed
Shuell: 13 citizens killed
Christos: 9 citizens killed
Xiomera: 3 citizens killed
Many of the foreigners killed in the quake were identified as tourists, though a sizable amount have been confirmed to have been residing in Zamastan. Several fatalities were recorded on Grouse Mountain where an avalanche destroyed a base camp and a ski resort lodge popular with tourists. It is estimated that up to 100 people were killed in that slide. Another avalanche on Mount Kira also destroyed several lodges, and upwards of 60 people were killed on that mountain.
Kelowna's main international airport, Kelly Ellis Int. Airport, has been forced to close its terminals and runways to large planes after its duel runways sustained damage from the influx of flights delivering aid, officials said Sunday.
The past week has seen a procession of big jets flying in goods and relief workers, as well as a swarm of journalists, but the airport only has two runway and parking slots for just twelve large jets.
A Zamastanian travel official told The Tofino Times that planes weighing over 196 tons were being told not to land at the Kelowna International Airport, located on Kelowna's outskirts. Many planes were being diverted to Tofino International or Providence's Hapson International Airport instead.