A tsunami hit Donggala and Palu city in Central Sulawesi on Friday evening, triggered by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the province at 5:02 p.m. Jakarta time. The epicenter of the quake is about 27 kilometers northeast of Donggala and 10 km deep. Prior to the earthquake, in the afternoon, Donggala regency was hit by a 6.0 magnitude quake that killed at least one and injured several others. The quake struck about 2 km north of Donggala at a depth of 10 km and lasted 10 seconds. The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks of magnitudes between 3.2 and 5. The main quake was felt in Donggala, Palu and Poso.
Soon after the evening quake, a tsunami warning for Central Sulawesi was issued at 5:07 p.m. The warning, however, was revoked around 30 minutes later.
It was only later that the BNPB confirmed that a tsunami had occurred. Its wave reached 1.5 meters high and hit, among other structures, Palu Grand Mall and Baiturrahman Mosque, both located near the coastline.
The Central Sulawesi administration has declared a 14-day state of emergency, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Central Sulawesi’s population reached nearly 3 million people in 2016. From the total, Palu city was home to at least 374,000 residents and Donggala regency at least 296,400 people.
At around 2 p.m. on Saturday, the BNPB announced that at least 384 people are dead, 29 missing and 540 injured as rescue teams scoured the ravaged city of Palu.
Updated numbers of the victims show that 384 people died, 29 are missing and 540 are injured. Donggala is still unreachable because communications are still cut off. A team has been dispatched to the regency. The number of victims was likely to increase because the rescue teams have yet to reach other affected areas.
On Tuesday October 2nd, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced that at least 1.234 people are dead, 99 missing and 799 injured as rescue teams scoured the ravaged city of Palu, and 61.000 evacuated.
The BNPB announced on Tuesday that the death toll has risen to 1.234.
BNPB also estimates 71 foreign tourists have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Authorities had found 66 of the foreigners and declared them safe.
(Source: The Jakarta Post and Concord)
After seeing and assessing the impact of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Palu City and Donggala – Central Sulawesi, PGLII (National Evangelical Alliance in Indonesia) has responded to help victims affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
PGLII has done and plans to help the affected people, by doing things as follows:
- The fundraising collected for Central Sulawesi as of October 1st amounted to IDR 60 million, and according to the information from government the urgent need for victims is drinking water and rice / foods.
- Starting October 1st, 2018, the Jelambar Command Post (PGLII) is opened operationally to accommodate donated goods.
- There will be part timer personnel who will alternately stand by at the Command Post who will be tasked with receiving and registering incoming donated goods.
- It is targeted that this week the PGLII will deliver the donated goods needed.
- PGLII will re-issue a circular letter for the PGLII members at the soonest.
- The community services of PGLII have prepared operational cars (Grandmax) for donated goods delivery transportation.
- The collection of donations will be collected in their respective churches, and then will be sent to Halim Perdana Kusuma (Jakarta) airport by using Indonesian Military-owned aircraft to be sent directly to Palu city. For churches that do not have a place to accommodate donation goods, they can send to the PGLII Command Post.
Donated goods can be sent to PGLII Command Post in Jelambar area, Jakarta with address below:
JAKARTA COMMAND POST:
Jl. Pangeran Tubagus Angke Blok A No.20/A-31 (next to RD Jabar Agung) – Jelambar Baru, Grogol Petamburan Jakarta Barat. Telp: +62217252831, or direct call to Deddy Madong: +62811820959.