President Goes to Palu Reviewing Earthquake and Tsunami Affected Areas

Jakarta -After Two days of the disaster, Sunday, September 30, 2018, President Joko Widodo decided to leave for Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, to directly observe the area affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

As is known, an earthquake measuring magnitude 7.4 which also caused a tsunami to shake the region of Palu and Donggala, Central Sulawesi, on Friday (28/9).

After hearing of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi Province, the President ordered the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief and the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to carry out emergency response operations.

For this reason, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Military Commander, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Communication and Information, Minister of Social Affairs, Head of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Head of BNPB, Deputy Chief of Police has arrived in Palu on Saturday (29/9) .

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno to the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat explained that the President decided to directly review the Province of Central Sulawesi, especially the City of Palu to find out about the current post-disaster conditions.

“The President will provide direction related to the priorities that must be carried out, as well as the decisions needed related to the impact of the disaster in the field. The main focus at this time is the evacuation of victims and also the delivery of aid, “Pratikno said, quoted from his official statement on Sunday (30/9)

In addition, the difficulty of coordination in dealing with the effects of the earthquake and tsunami due to the breakdown of communication lines was another factor that caused the Head of State to immediately review the affected areas of the earthquake and tsunami.

During a visit to Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, the President and his entourage used the Air Force’s Boeing 737-400 Airplane through Adi Soemarmo Air Force Base, Surakarta. The President’s group took off at 10.07 WIB.

TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto explained the use of the Air Force’s Boeing 737-400 during this visit was due to the condition of the runway at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport, Palu.

“The runway that can be used is only 2,000 meters from the 2,400 meters of runways that existed and yesterday with the group I used a type of Boeing 737-400 aircraft,” said Hadi.

Upon arrival in Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, the President and his entourage were planned to review several locations affected by the earthquake and tsunami, namely Talise Beach, Balaroa Housing, and Wira Buana Hospital.

During this flight to Palu, the President was accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Housing Rakya Basuki Hadimuljono, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, Military Secretary President Marsda Trisno Hendradi, and Paspampres Commander Major General TNI (Mar) Suhartono.