May their bereaved families remain sincere and patient
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo, on Tuesday, monitored the damage caused to the West Sulawesi Governor's Office by the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck last Friday.

During the visit, the head of state was accompanied by Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Doni Monardo, and West Sulawesi Governor Ali Baal Masdar, the State Secretariat's Press Bureau noted in a press statement released on Tuesday.

The photograph received from the press bureau shows nearly all buildings in the gubernatorial office compounds been destroyed. Heavy-duty equipment and trucks were readied to clear away the debris of collapsed buildings.

According to the BNPB Center for Operation Control, the quake had claimed 84 lives as of Monday at 8:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

Of the total, 11 were found in Majene District and 73 in Mamuju District.

The quake also inflicted injuries to 64 people in Majene and 180 people in Mamuju as well as compelled 4,421 people in Majene and 15,014 people in Mamuju to flee their homes.

West Sulawesi Governor Ali Baal Masdar has declared a 14-day emergency response status on January 15-28.

The head of state remarked that during his visit to West Sulawesi to ensure the evacuation of victims, the distribution of relief aid among the affected people, management of logistics, and evacuee tents were well-managed.

The head of state remarked that the central government will reconstruct the destroyed gubernatorial office and assist residents in repairing their damaged houses.

The president also offered deep condolences over those who lost their lives in the disaster.

"May their bereaved families remain sincere and patient," he stated.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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