Jakarta (ANTARA) - Anutapura Medical Center Building in Anutapura Regional Hospital, Palu, Central Sulawesi, was the first in Indonesia to be built using base isolation system-related technology for absorbing earthquake shocks, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

"This is the first building in Indonesia to use the base isolation system to withstand earthquake vibrations," the head of state remarked at the building's inauguration in Palu City on Tuesday.

According to Jokowi, the working principle of this technology is to withstand shocks by relying on a device similar to a vibration damper that is embedded at the bottom of the building.

"Under this building, there is a technology similar to a shock breaker. It will be flexible when an earthquake occurs. However, we do not expect an earthquake," he remarked.

The reconstruction process for the Anutapura Medical Center Building at Anutapura Regional Hospital on an area of 19 thousand square meters began in 2021, with a budget amounting to Rp244 billion (US$15 million), Jokowi explained.

The health service facilities, which were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in 2018, comprise an emergency room, obstetric emergency department, polytechnic, radiology, laboratory, inpatient room, and central surgical installation, he added.

Apart from officiating the Anutapura Building, the president also inaugurated the Datokarama State Islamic University (UIN) reconstruction project in Palu that was built in 2020 for Rp139 billion (US$8.8million) on an area of 34 thousand square meters.

"This reconstruction includes the construction of various learning facilities, auditorium, sports facilities, and other supporting facilities," Jokowi stated.

Moreover, the head of state inaugurated the permanent housing and residential infrastructure after the disaster, which was built in 2019 at a total cost of more than Rp1 trillion (US$63 million).

"Including the construction of 3,724 permanent residential units worth Rp483 billion (US$30 million) as well as residential infrastructure worth Rp571 billion (US$36 million)," he stated.


Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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