President Jokowi Instructs Minister to Coordinate Lombok Quake Mitigation Measures
President Jokowi answers reporters question when reviewing the 2018 Asian Games Pencak Silat venue, at TMII, Jakarta, Monday (6/8). (Photo by: Oji/Public Relations Division)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo, on behalf of the Indonesian people and on his own behalf, offered his deepest condolences to the lives lost in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province on Sunday (5/8) evening.
The President has also ordered Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto to coordinate disaster mitigation measures, particularly regarding the evacuation of the dead and the injured.
“Last night, I ordered Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto to coordinate all ranks related to this, including the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Minister of Social Affairs, the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and others so that the mitigation measures in the wake of the earthquake can be done quickly, including evacuating the dead and the injured,” the President told reporters on Monday (6/8).
The President also instructed Wiranto to handle tourists (stranded in the quake-hit areas) as well as possible and to ensure adequate service, especially flight schedules which were mostly delayed last night.
Regarding logistics, the President said it has been dispatched to the province since last night and doctors and paramedics have also already been deployed to the affected areas.
Asked about the possibility of visiting the victims, the President said that he is waiting for the right time to visit the affected area and does want to disturb the ongoing handling efforts.
Regarding the possibility of providing compensation for the victims, the President said that the Government would assess the situation on the ground. “We will decide (the amount of money for the victims) based on the data on the ground. The Government will provide assistance, but the amount is yet to set,” the President concluded.
As reported earlier, as of Monday (6/8) morning at least 91 people died, hundreds were injured, and thousands of homes were damaged by the earthquake. (DND/ES) (MUR/EP/YM/Naster).
