Update On Total Refugees After The Earthquake In West Sulawesi Reaches 19,435 People

Earthquake Evacuation in West Sulawesi (Special)

JAKARTA - The Operations Control Center for the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that as of Monday, January 18 at 08.00 WIB, there were 19,435 refugees after the earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 in West Sulawesi (Sulbar) Province.

In detail, 15,014 people fled in Mamuju Regency and 4,421 people took refuge in Majane Regency.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Raditya Jati said 25 refugee points in Majene Regency were scattered in Kota Tinggi Village, Lombong Village, Kayu Angin Village, Petabean Village, Deking Village, Mekata Village, Kabkirian Village, Lakkading Village, Lembang Village. and Limbua Village, which is still in the data collection process.

Meanwhile, in Mamuju District, there are 5 refugee points in Mamuju District and Simboro District which are still in the process of collecting data.

"There were 81 people who died as a result of the earthquake, namely 11 people who died in Majene Regency and 70 people in Mamuju Regency," Raditya Jati said in an electronic message received in Jakarta.

The BNPB Pusdalops also reported that 64 people were seriously injured in Majene Regency and 189 people in Mamuju Regency, so that the total number of victims with serious injuries reached 253 people.

Meanwhile, there were 679 victims with minor injuries.

BPBD Majene Regency, Mamuju Regency and Polewali Mandar Regency continue to collect data and coordinate with the TNI - Polri, Basarnas and volunteers and other agencies in the evacuation process of the affected community.

"Currently, the BNPB personnel team is still conducting assessments for the earthquake-affected areas in Majene Regency," he explained.

In order to prevent potential transmission of COVID-19, Head of BNPB Doni Monardo who also serves as Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force also provided support in the form of a rapid antigen test tool to check and trace the presence of COVID-19 transmission in the evacuation environment.

If there are refugee residents who are reactive with antigen swabs, they will immediately get follow-up from the local Health Office.

In addition, Doni also asked for the handling of evacuation of residents affected by the West Sulawesi (Sulbar) Earthquake to separate vulnerable groups from young people in order to prevent transmission and anticipate the potential risk of spreading COVID-19 in refugee camps.

On Saturday, January 16 at around 6:32 a.m. WIB, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) announced that an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 had occurred in Majene Regency. BMKG also predicts aftershocks will still occur.

For this reason, BNPB urges the public to remain calm and always be vigilant regarding the potential for aftershocks of significant magnitude.

"BNPB also urges people living in hilly areas with steep cliffs to be aware of landslides and rock debris. In addition, for those who live in coastal or coastal areas, they are expected to always be alert and immediately stay away from the beach if they feel an aftershock," he concluded. .