In total, 73 people diedJakarta (ANTARA) - The death toll from a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that rattled Majene and Mamuju Districts in West Sulawesi Province on early Friday has climbed to 73, with 27,850 people taking refuge as of Sunday evening, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
"In total, 73 people died," Chief of the BNPB Center for Disaster Data, Information and Communication Dr. Raditya Jati said in an online press conference in Jakarta on Sunday.
Raditya said the death toll comprised nine found in Majene and 64 in Mamuju.
The BNPB recorded a total of 826 people sustained injuries and 27,850 people fled their homes as of Sunday evening.
He said the distribution of logistics to affected areas is somewhat obstructed. But in general, all emergency response efforts are quite conducive and local governments have not faced any obstacle.
The logistics will be distributed among affected people at command posts. However, efforts will also be made to distribute the relief aid to affected people who cannot come to the command posts, he said.
Related news: BNPB hands Rp4-billion initial aid for West Sulawesi's quake-hit areas
The BNPB noted that the evacuees are in dire need of basic necessities, blankets, mats, tents, medical services, masks, fast food, mineral water, communication means, tarpaulin, heavy duty equipment and personal protective equipment for health officers.
The agency has so far distributed eight sets of isolation tents, 10 sets of evacuee tents, five units of light tower, 2,004 packs of food supplement, 2,004 packs of fast food, 30 units of generator set, 500 packs of baby kits, and 500 thousand masks.
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A powerful earthquake rocked the districts of Majene and Mamuju on early Friday. The epicenter of the quake was located on land, six kilometers northeast of Majene at a depth of 10 kilometers
The shallow quake, which the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) believes was caused by local fault, also destroyed several buildings, including the governor's office, a military office, and Maleo Hotel.
The earthquake, which also damaged many houses and a public health center, additionally triggered three landslides along the Majene-Mamuju road section and disrupted the transportation of people and goods, Raditya said earlier.
Earthquakes regularly hit various parts of Indonesia since the country lies on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activities.
One of the deadliest earthquakes rattling eastern Indonesia occurred in several areas of Central Sulawesi Province on September 28, 2018.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami that hit the areas of Palu City and the districts of Donggala, Paringi Moutong, and Sigi on Sept 28, 2018, claimed 2,102 lives, injured 4,612, and rendered 680 others missing.
A total of 68,451 homes were seriously damaged, while 78,994 people were displaced.
Related news: BNPB warns of possible significant aftershocks in West Sulawesi
Translator: Katriana/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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