"Some 16 units of heavy equipment can be used to evacuate the victims and will continue to arrive from Mamuju, Gorontalo, Poso, and Balikpapan," Sutopo stated at a press conference related to the handling of earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi at the BNPB building here on Tuesday.
In addition to heavy equipment, the number of personnel deployed to evacuate, search, and help the victims also increased.
Sutopo remarked that the joint search and rescue team comprised personnel from the Military (TNI) and National Police, ministries and institutions, and volunteers.
Efforts to deal with the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi also involved the TNI`s main weapons system, including two Indonesian Republic ships, three helicopters, and five aircraft.
"BNPB water bombers that were earlier used to extinguish forest and land fires will also be sent to Central Sulawesi for evacuation and to deliver logistics assistance," Sutopo remarked.
An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale, which was updated by BMKG to 7.4 on the Richter Scale, shook the Palu and Donggala regions last Friday evening.
The epicenter of the earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometers was located 27 kilometers east of the Donggala Sea.
The BMKG has issued a tsunami alert, warning of potential for waves of 0.5 meters to three meters on western Donggala coast, and Waspada status, with warning of potential tsunami waves of less than 0.5 meters on northern Donggala beach, northern Mamuju, and the western city of Palu.
In the meantime, President Joko Widodo said he had received offers for assistance from the heads of government of various countries to cope with the impact of Central Sulawesi`s earthquake and tsunami.
So far, the death toll in the Central Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami had reached 1,234 people in the province, mainly in the city of Palu and the district of Donggala.
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Reporting by Dewanto Samodro
Editing by Otniel Tamindael
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
