President Jokowi Offer Condolences Over Quake, Landslides That Hit Several Regions

President Jokowi in his press statement at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Friday (15/01) (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed his deepest condolences over the loss of several lives in a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Indonesian province of West Sulawesi, Friday (15/01) this midnight.

“On behalf of the Government and all the people of Indonesia, I’d like to express my deepest sorrow for the dead victims,” President Joko Widodo said at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Friday (15/01).

The earthquake that hit the province occurred at around 01:28 Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Following the quake, President Jokowi ordered his ranks to act swiftly according to emergency disaster measures.

“I also phoned Governor of West Sulawesi this morning and I had ordered Head of National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Minister of Social Affairs, Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (BNPP), Commander of Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and their ranks to immediately take emergency measures, carry out search and rescue victims, and treat the injured,” the President added.

The Head of State also urged the public to remain calmed and heed the instructions given by officers in the ground.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also expressed his deepest condolences for the people who lost their lives in landslides that hit Sumedang Regency in West Java. He also ordered Head of BNPB, Minister of Social Affairs, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to immediately relocate the affected residents.

“Last, I urge all of us to remain vigilant against disasters due to the extreme weather such as heavy rains and to always pay attention to early warnings on weather from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” he said. (BPMI/UN) (GWH/EP)