Durian. Indonesian government rushes sending humanitarian aids and rescuers to West Sulawesi on Jan.15 after magnitude 6.2 of earthquake hit the province and death toll has reached 42, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Raditya Jati said.
Rescuers have been working to find victims who are trapped under damaged and collapsed buildings.
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed rescuers from Jakarta and neighboring provinces – South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Kalimantan Island – to work together with local personnel.
Police and military personnel also have been sent to West Sulawesi along with necessary heavy equipment such as hospital ship, electric generators, solar panels, ambulances. The National Police (Polri) also sent its members of disaster victim identification (DVI) unit, according to spokesperson Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono.
Blankets, tents, food supplies, folded beds and face masks are among basic necessities that have been sent to displaced people and those who were fled home for safety.
In Mamuju regency, at least two hospitals, seaport, a bridge and 300 are damaged. Areas in Mamuju, Majene and Polewali Mandar are the most affected sites where rescuers keep working to safe life of victims.
There are 10 shelter locations in Majene – in Kota Tinggi, Lombong, Kayu Angin, Petabean, Deking, Mekata, Kabiraan, Lakkading, Lembang and Limbua villages – as well as five locations in Mamuju.
Social Affairs Minister Tri Risma Harini and Head of BNPB Doni Munardo have arrived in the disaster site on Jan.15.
The Social Affairs Ministry has sent logistic supply to the disaster affected area worth Rp 1.7 billion ($120,700).
According to analysis from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.2 was a tectonic tremor known as shallow crustal earthquake in Mamuju Thrust which was pressed up. It’s similar to earthquake that hit Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara in 2018.
