Jakarta (ANTARA) - Two Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) planes transported 14 tons of relief aid on Monday for victims of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Mamuju and Majene
Districts, West Sulawesi Province, last Friday.

The two airplanes, a CN-295 and a Boeing 737, belonged to Air Squadron 2 at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta.

Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, said the TNI AU is ready to transport aid for quake victims from various agencies in Jakarta.

He said the TNI AU had earlier sent relief aid for the quake victims from President Joko Widodo.

TNI AU has transported more than 87 tons of logistics supplies to Banjarmasin for flood victims and to Mamuju for quake victims, as well as dispatched 216 medical workers and volunteers to the affected areas, he added.

Related news: West Sulawesi quake led to large-scale displacement of thousands: BNPB

"We have sent assistance in the form of fast food, blankets, medicines, and tents (as well) as personnel to help (people) in affected areas," Prasetyo informed.

The powerful earthquake rocked the districts of Majene and Mamuju early on Friday last week. 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 a local fault, destroyed several buildings, including the governor's office, a military office, and the Maleo Hotel.

The earthquake damaged many houses and a public health center and even triggered three landslides along the Majene-Mamuju road section, disrupting the transportation of people and goods, Chief of the Center for Disaster Data, Information and Communication at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Dr. Raditya Jati said at an online press conference in Jakarta on Sunday.

The death toll from the 6.2-magnitude earthquake stood at 73, with 27,850 people taking refuge as of Sunday evening, according to the BNPB.

As per BNPB records, a total of 826 people sustained injuries in the quake, while 27,850 people fled their homes as of Sunday evening, Dr. Raditya said.

Related news: Papuan volunteers distribute relief to West Sulawesi quake victims





Translator: Fauzi/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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