Gov’t Carries Out Emergency Response in Quake-Hit Palu

President Jokowi visits disaster-affected area in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Sunday (30/9). Photo by: IST.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Sunday (30/9) visited Perumnas Balaroa housing complex, one of the areas most affected by the quake which hit Palu on Friday (28/9).

The people who saw the President’s arrival at the location immediately surrounded him. On the occasion, the President engaged in conversation with the residents.

“This is indeed an emergency situation because many roads and airports have been destroyed, electricity supply is limited from 7 power base and supply of fuel is also limited because the road is closed,” President Jokowi said.

Regarding the supply of fuel, the President estimates that in two days the fuel will reach the disaster area while heavy equipment from Mamuju, Gorontalo has also moved towards the area.

“We hope that the heavy equipment will arrive tonight,” the President continued.

President Jokowi also added that supply of food and water is also limited due to the condition of the airport that is not 100 percent ready to be used by the aircraft.

“I tell the people to be patient. I know that we have many problems that must be resolved in the near future, including the communication,” the President said.

In the meantime, the official release of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that the power outages caused the communication network in Donggala and the surrounding areas to be unable to operate because the electricity supply from the state-owned electricity company PLN was broken.

According to the release, there are 276 base stations that cannot be used. Communication operators continue to try to recover emergency electricity supply while Ministry of Communication and Informatics has taken measures to recover the broken communication.

At the end of the conversation, President Jokowi said that he would continue to monitor every updated situation related to the post-quake and tsunami mitigation.

“I will monitor all the process. After the normal situation is restored, the rehabilitation and reconstruction will begin,” the President concluded.

(BPMI/EN) (RI/MMB/Naster)