"The government will be together with the community and hope that the Mamuju people would not panic. (Please) be calm but remain vigilant and follow the government's official appeal regarding the earthquake that just occurred," Suhardi noted in Mamuju, West Sulawesi.
"The Mamuju administration advises people to stay away from high and cracked buildings and find a safe place," she added.
According to ANTARA's observation, several residents of Mamuju, West Sulawesi, chose to stay outside their homes after the 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit the district at 1:32 p.m. local time.
Rafiuddin's family was among the residents, who did not want to take the risk to enter their homes for fear of aftershocks.
"We do not have the nerve to enter the house because we are worried that there will be aftershocks," Rafiuddin, a resident of Simboro, Mamuju, stated.
Related news: 89,624 people still take refuge following powerful quake in W Sulawesi
Rafiuddin and his family fled the house once they felt the tremors caused by the earthquake on Wednesday afternoon.
"At first, the tremors were not too strong, but in a while, they got stronger, so I immediately saved myself and my children and wife," he remarked.
The quake has compelled Mamuju's residents to leave the district to move to highland plateaus.
They opted to evacuate to mountainous areas to avoid the impact of the earthquake. Some residents also chose to evacuate to the Manakarra Mamuju Stadium and the Mamuju District Head's Office.
The Mamuju District Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has deployed officers to help residents affected by the earthquake.
Last year, on January 15, 2021, the districts of Mamuju and Majene in West Sulawesi were rattled by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that was ensued by several aftershocks.
Related news: Panic-stricken Mamuju residents flee homes following Sunday earthquake
Related news: West Sulawesi quake led to large-scale displacement of thousands: BNPB
Translator: M Hanapi, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
