"I have ordered the Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security to coordinate," President Joko Widodo said in Solo on Friday, through a live streaming of the Media and Information Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.
President Jokowi also called on the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander and ordered him to jointly deal with the disaster, especially relating to emergency handling, searching for victims and evacuation and preparing the basic needs.
"We hope that tomorrow we will get more detailed reports and information because the ministers, the Head the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) have not yet arrived at the location. They are going there, and we will wait until tomorrow morning to hear the report on the real situation in the field," he said.
On that occasion, President Jokowi expressed his condolences over the earthquake and tsunami in Donggala, Palu and surrounding areas in Central Sulawesi.
"Earlier I got information from the Head of the BNPB, yet it was not complete because it was difficult to call someone there. Earlier I tried to contact the governor since this afternoon I could not connect him because it seems that communication was interrupted," Jokowi said.
The Head of State said he always followed the events that occurred from where he was and he hoped that after getting a full explanation, he would be able to determine next plans.
He appealed to all people, especially those in Donggala, Palu and surrounding areas, to mot only remain calm but also remain vigilant.
"We hope this will be resolved together soon," he said.
Reporting by Agus Salim
Editing by Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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