President Jokowi: Post-Quake Relief Efforts Progressing as Planned

President Jokowi talks to cabinet members and officials when visiting disaster-affected area at Patebo, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday (3/10) Photo by: BPMI Setpres/ES)

President Joko ”Jokowi” Widodo said that post-quake relief efforts in Palu and Central Sulawesi Province are progressing in accordance with the plan.

“I see everything is going well, including the evacuation, and the heavy equipments have entered Balaroa,” President Jokowi told reporters when visiting disaster-affected area at Petobo Village, South Palu District, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday (3/10).

The President added that searching and rescuing victims as well as clearing debris are underway in other disaster-affected areas while the wounded victims were transported to Makassar (South Sulawesi) to get proper medical treatment.

For the record, President Jokowi revisited Palu to oversee post-quake relief efforts after quake and tsunami hit some areas in Central Sulawesi last Friday (28/9).

During the visit, President Jokowi found that 40 percent of the electricity supply has been restored thanks to medium and small generators while 500 operators from state-owned electricity company PLN started restoring the electricity system that was paralyzed after the quake.

Meanwhile, the supply of fuel and logistics, according to the President, is currently being distributed to several quake-affected areas, although the President admitted that several disaster areas have not been reached.

“I have ordered (that the fuel and logistics) to be distributed to those places,” President Jokowi said.

The President expressed his hope that the post-quake relief will be completed as soon as possible and economic activity can be restored.

“I have instructed the Governor to encourage people to open their shops and the market and start the economic activity,” the President concluded.

Accompanying President Jokowi during the visit were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir, Minister of Social Affairs  Agus Gumiwang, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Tito Karnavian, and Special Staff to President Adita Irawati.

(BPMI Setpres/ES) (RI/YM/Naster)