A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has wreaked havoc in the west of the Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi, killing at least 34 people and injuring more than 630. At least 15,000 people have been displaced by the quake, which struck 6 kilometres north-east of the city of Majene, at a depth of 10 kilometres, toppling buildings in the area.
“A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the West Sulawesi Province in Indonesia in the early morning hours local time today”, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today (15 Jan) at a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva. He added that “the information that we do have from the national authorities is that, at least initially, there was no Tsunami warning.”
A smaller 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the same area Thursday (14 Jan) a few hours later.
“Heavy damages have been reported in the city of Majene, including at the five-story Mitra Manakarra Hospital, where eight people were reportedly trapped inside” Laerke said.
“The Governor’s office, two hotels, a mall, a community health centre, and over 300 houses also sustained damages according to the sources that we have,” he added.
The earthquake interrupted the access road between Majene and the provincial capital, Mamuju in three different locations. Electricity, communications network and fuel supply have also been disrupted. Authorities are still working to restore communications.
“National authorities have so far mobilized four helicopters, tents and mattresses, special kits for children and the elderly, food and medical assistance including orthopedic and psychosocial support”, Laerke said.
Indonesia is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, as it lies along the so-called Ring of Fire - a region in the Pacific Ocean that is especially prone to tectonic movements and volcanic eruptions. The country has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, including in Sulawesi.
In 2018, a 6.2 magnitude quake and tsunami struck the city of Palu, Sulawesi, about 500 kilometres north of Majene, killing thousands of people. In December 2004, a 9.1 magnitude quake off the north of Indonesia’s Sumatra island triggered a massive tsunami killing more than 230,000 people across several countries.
The UN is in close contact with the Indonesian Government and ready to support the response, according to OCHA. The Indonesian Red Cross and NGO’s have already mobilized their response, but getting response teams to the area could be hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo ©EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
