Ciwidey, West Java (ANTARA News) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has formed a rapid movement team for handling earthquake emergency response operations in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Sumadi informed the press here on Saturday that the rapid movement team was set up to immediately improve transportation facilities damaged by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale and its ensuing tsunami in Donggala and Palu on Friday.

"The team will be deployed on the field to form a special command post related to earthquake handling in Palu, so as to facilitate coordination between the center and the regions," the minister remarked, adding that he named the team the Quick Response Transportation Team.

Sumadi said he had also requested the Transportation Ministry`s staff to check several sea and air transportation facilities that were affected by the earthquake.

"I instructed the staff at the Ministry of Transportation to check the transportation facilities and infrastructure, such as airports and ports, in areas affected by the earthquake," the minister noted.

The powerful earthquake and tsunami disrupted the communication network system of the Air Traffic Control tower of SIS Al Jufri airport in Palu.

Airnav Indonesia Public Relations Manager Yohanes Sirait informed Antara in Jakarta on Friday that the tower was affected due to the strong earthquake.

Reporting by Ahmad Wijaya
Editing by Otniel Tamindael

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
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