The minister arrived at Saketa, Gane Barat Subdistrict, on Thursday and was welcomed by the Head of the BNPB. Then they continued to Gane Luar, which was the worst affected area.
The Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita also handed over disaster relief in the form of food, family equipment and clothing for refugees.
The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed Rp1.39 billion for earthquake refugees in North Maluku in the form of basic needs such as tents, food and clothing, and cleaning equipment.
An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale jolted North Maluku on Sunday at 6:28 p.m. local time.
The tremor did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.
The quake's epicenter was located at 0.59-degree southern latitude and 128.06-degree eastern longitude, some 62 km northeast of Labuha, North Maluku, and at a depth of 10 km below sea level.
The quake also destroyed 971 houses, displacing more than 3,104 people.
There are 15 shelter points, namely, the South Halmahera BPBD Office, the South Halmahera District Tourism Office, the South Halmahera District Police, the Great Mosque, the South Kalimantan LP Office, the Amazing High School, Mount Bobebo and Gane West and East Districts.
The South Halmahera administration has declared an emergency status for the next seven days.
Six people died and 51 people were injured in the earthquake.
Among the dead victims are Aisyah (50), a resident of Gane Luar Village, South East Gane Subdistrict; Asfar Mukmat (25), a resident of Gane Village in Gane Selatan Selatan Subdistrict; Sagaf Girato (50), Yomen Village, Joronga Subdistrict; Wiji Siang (60), Gane Luar Village, South East Gane District; and Saimah (90), from Nyonyifi, East Bacan District.
Translator: Desi P / Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
