Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia on Earthquake in West Sulawesi Province and Landslides in West Java Province, Friday, 15 January 2021 at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province

Journalist:

What is your response to the earthquake that hit South Sulawesi, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

This morning, I have received a report from Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) concerning a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that hit West Sulawesi Province, on Friday midnight at 01:28 Western Indonesian Time.

I also called Governor of West Sulawesi this morning and I had ordered Head of the BNPB, Minister of Social Affairs, Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), as well as their ranks to immediately take emergency measures, to carry out search and rescue operations to find the victims, and to treat people injured.

On behalf of the Government and all the people of Indonesia, I’d like to express my deepest condolences for the dead victims.

I urge the public to remain calm and heed the instructions given by the officers at the location.

And on this occasion, I would also like to express my deepest condolences for the people who lost their lives due to landslide that hit Sumedang Regency in West Java.

Concerning landslide handling in Sumedang Regency, I also ordered Head of the BNPB, Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to immediately relocate the affected residents.

Lastly, I urge all of us to remain vigilant against extreme weather conditions, especially heavy rain and to pay attention to the early warnings from the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency).