EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DEVASTATED PALU CITY AND THE NEIGHBOURING AREAS

Palu, 2 October 2018

By Mochtar Marhum

It was 18:02 PM of Central Indonesia Time. A deadly Earthquake and Tsunami devastated Palu, the Capital City of Central Sulawesi which killed and injured thousands people.

According to the official report of Government Body in Charge of Natural Disaster, the Earthquake measured 7.4 Richter Scale that trigerred Tsunami of 10 to 15 Meter Above the Sea Level and swept all buildings and the living environment in the sorrounding Coastal Areas.

Two Housing Compounds situated in the Suburb of Petobo and Balaroa were seriously devasted. It was speculated that the deadly natural disasters have killed nearly one thousand Residents living in those two suburbs.

The Tragedy of Earthquake and Tsunami occured coinsided with the opening Cerimony of Annual Cultural Show Festival of Pesona Palu Nomony which took place in Talise Beach, One of The most favourite Tourist Destination and Amusement Centre.

At the moment lots of people wanted to watch the festival. It was reported that those who were at the venue of cultural festival found dead. They were including spectators, members of steering comitee, artists and performers, the local goverment authorities, security and street vendors.

Dead bodies, vichles, ruins of buildings and garbages were clearly seen in the natural disaster scenes. Families and Evacuating team members have been evacuating dead bodies from building ruins and the sorrounding scenes.

Many Buildings of Hotels, Offices, people houses, schools, campuses and bussines districrits were seriuosly devasted. Some were totally collapsed and killed many people.

In several areas, many local people queed up to get their basic needs. Many drivers and riders lined up in the Gasoline Statation to get petrols.

post the earthquake and tsunami, people get suffered since the electrical power was cut. So the city of Palu is totally dark in the evening because of blackout. Access to Clean water is getting hard and the amount of clean water is gradually scarced.

In the Airport of Mutiara Sis Aljufri Palu many refugees were try to go exodus out of Palu City. Chaotic situation was seen.

In the bordering areas, the main roads access to Palu, some basic needs assistance were looted by refugees. Looting cases are also rampant in the affected areas.

It was reported that a jail was broken by prisoners. Then, many prisoners ran away from prisons. Some prisoners were reported arsoned the jaile and escaped together with their jailmates.

Nowdays, all local refugees are looking forward to waiting for basic need aides from governments and overseas funding bodies. Yet, it was recently reported that some foreign aids assistace were banned temporarily.

WRITER: A Freelance Columnist and Academic of Tadulako University, Palu Central Sulawesi.