The Indonesian Embassy in Ankara Successfully Evacuated 123 Indonesian Citizens in Regions Affected by the Turkish Earthquake, One Person from Bali Dies

JAKARTA - The evacuation team at the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara led by Ambassador Lalu Muhamad Iqbal managed to evacuate 123 Indonesian citizens in a number of different locations, while one Indonesian citizen from Bali was known to have died in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey Monday.

"Alhamdulillah, according to the President's order through the Indonesian Foreign Minister, the Indonesian Embassy team has arrived at the earthquake site to hand over humanitarian assistance and evacuate the affected Indonesian citizens to Ankara. I have asked the evacuated Indonesian citizens to inform their families in Indonesia so they are calm," Ambassador Lalu said in a statement. written by the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, Wednesday, February 8.

The evacuation process was carried out after the team traveled for 17 hours, in the middle of a snowstorm and temperatures ranging from 4 to -7 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, Ambassador Lalu explained that the evacuation was carried out from the four points most affected by the earthquake. The number evacuated was 123 people from the original target of 104 people. This includes 2 Malaysian citizens and 1 Myanmar citizen.

Meanwhile, an Indonesian citizen named Ayu Fira and her two children who were reportedly unable to be contacted, have been found and are in a safe condition.

"Thank God, after tracking to the location where we lived, we found Ibu Ayu Fira and her child safe," said Bondet Suryonurwendo, Secretary 3 for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara who led the team to Hatay.

Meanwhile, sad news came from Kahramanmaras, where an Indonesian citizen named Nia Malinda from Bali along with her one year old child and her husband who is a Turkish citizen, were found dead because they were buried under the rubble.

"Colonel Amir, Defense Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, who led the Evacuation Team to Kahramanmaras, has confirmed the recovery of the deceased and the Indonesian Embassy has communicated this to the family of the deceased," said the Indonesian Embassy's statement.

"The deceased and his family will be buried today in Kahramanmaras," the statement continued.

Meanwhile, regarding the two Indonesian citizens who are workers in Diyarbakir, they still cannot be contacted. The evacuation team led by Kombes Budi Wardiman is still tracking in Diyarbakir, while evacuating 20 Indonesian citizens in Diyarbakir and Malatya.

"We have arrived in Diyarbakir and are still communicating with local authorities and the Indonesian community to identify two Indonesian citizens in Dyarbakir who have not been contacted until now," said Kombes Budi Wardiman, Head of the Indonesian Embassy's Evacuation Team in Ankara to Diyarbakir.