Gas Stations In Mamuju Are Full, Drivers Need Hours To Get Fuel, 'If There Is An Aftershock, We Immediately Evacuate'

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Hundreds of vehicles line up at several gas stations in Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province. All of this happened after the area was rocked by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 on Wednesday afternoon at around 13.32 WITA.

From observations at the Simbuang gas station on Wednesday, June 8 afternoon, hundreds of vehicles, both one-wheeled and four-wheeled, were seen waiting in line for hours to get fuel.

"I've been queuing for more than an hour, but until now I haven't gotten fuel because there are still several vehicles in front of me," said a resident of Mamuju Arsyad, met while queuing for fuel at the Simbuang gas station, quoted from Antara.

He and other residents, said Arsyad, lined up to fill up their vehicle with fuel because they were worried that fuel would be scarce after the earthquake.

"If the car's tank is full, we can immediately leave for evacuation in case of aftershocks," said Arsyad.

Long queues of vehicles reaching nearly one kilometer were also seen at the Simboro gas station.

Residents admitted that they were willing to queue for fuel for fear of aftershocks, such as the earthquake that hit Mamuju and Majene Regencies on January 15, 2021.

"We are worried that fuel will be scarce after the earthquake, as happened last year," said resident Mamuju Ahmad.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of West Sulawesi, Akmal Malik, asked the residents of Mamuju not to panic, but to remain alert to the possibility of aftershocks.

"We urge the people of West Sulawesi to remain calm but must remain vigilant because there is no technology that can detect when the earthquake is coming," said Akmal Malik.

"The earthquake did not injure people, but it was the building that did. So, we urge the public to temporarily avoid buildings and buildings that have the potential to collapse if there are aftershocks," he added.

The earthquake that hit Mamuju Regency, he said, caused damage to a number of buildings and injured victims.

"There is damage to the multipurpose building of the West Sulawesi Provincial Government and seven victims have abrasions," said Akmal Malik.

The acting Governor of West Sulawesi said that currently his party is still collecting data on damage caused by the earthquake.

"I have ordered BPBD to move to ensure the community is safe," said Akmal Malik.