Still Covered in the Trauma of the Earthquake, Central Sulawesi Residents Survive in Emergency Tents Near Their Homes

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that no villages have been isolated after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Central Sulawesi.

BNPB has also not built a centralized evacuation post because most residents choose to evacuate independently around their respective homes.

"Centrally, large-scale evacuation tents equipped with public kitchens have not been built. People are now setting up temporary emergency tents made of tarpaulins around their respective homes," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, at a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 17.

According to Abdul, the self-evacuation was triggered by the psychological trauma of residents following the still occurring aftershocks with a significant intensity.

Based on the latest data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 118 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 that occurred on Tuesday, June 16. However, the magnitude of the aftershocks shows a trend that continues to weaken.

The main earthquake tremors were previously felt in a number of areas, including the city of Palu, Sigi Regency, Poso, and Parigi Moutong.

Abdul said BNPB also ensured that the distribution of family tents for residents whose houses were severely damaged continued.

In terms of regional connectivity, BNPB ensures that inter-regional transportation routes remain connected. Although there were landslides that closed part of the connecting road between Palu, Sigi, and Poso, the condition was considered to be immediately addressed.

According to him, the road body did not experience subsidence so that the landslide material was projected to be quickly cleaned by the local Public Works Agency.

"It is targeted to be reopened to public vehicles within one to two days," he said.

Meanwhile, the BNPB Operations Control Center recorded that as of Wednesday afternoon, there were 1,834 families (KK) or about 5,784 people who were affected by the earthquake and had received treatment from the joint team.

Of these, one person was reported dead, 73 people were lightly injured, and three people were seriously injured.

"This serious injury is related to bone or wounds due to the collapse of building structures. In detail in Sigi there are 1,813 households, Parigi Moutong 21 households, in Palu there are two minor injuries, and Poso one minor injury," said Abdul.