The death toll following a powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi on 28 September has now climbed to 1,249 and may continue rising as hundreds are said to be trapped under the debris.

At the scene after the earthquake

Spokesman of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on October 2 that 799 people have been injured during the disaster while at least 152 people are still buried under debris or building wreckage.

Speaking at a government meeting to coordinate disaster recovery efforts the day before, President Joko Widodo ordered sending more rescuers to speed up the search for victims of the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

He laid stress on several priorities, including finding, evacuating, and saving victims who have not yet been found.

Hadi Tjahjanto, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), stated that from October 2, victims of the disasters will be transported to Balikpapan city on East Kalimantan island.

The country’s Air Force also resumed operations of its transport aircraft to deliver relief supplies. The day before, flights between Palu and Makassar were suspended due to chaos at Palu airport.

Sulawesi was ravaged by two quakes measuring 6.1 and 7.5 on the Richter scale on September 28. A tsunami happened after the second hit the area in the afternoon of the same day.

Indonesia is prone to quake as it sits on a vulnerable quake-affected area called the Pacific Ring of Fire.

(Source: VNA)