The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll from a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province has reached three, with 17 individuals sustaining serious injuries. Additionally, 91 people suffered minor injuries, and 6,412 individuals were affected by the disaster. The most severely impacted area was Sigi regency, where damage was reported in multiple villages, as per Xinhua news agency.
The earthquake, a tectonic event, occurred on Tuesday at 11:27 a.m. local time, with its epicenter situated on land approximately 42 km southeast of Palu City at a depth of 10 km. Fortunately, the earthquake did not result in a tsunami. Emergency supplies such as tents, food packages, mattresses, and blankets have been provided by the government, while rescue teams are actively engaged in assessment and relief operations.
Following the earthquake, the province was placed under a disaster emergency status, which will be effective until June 23 to facilitate rapid response efforts. The initial earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.7, claimed one life, left 79 individuals injured, and impacted over 6,400 residents, according to the BNPB. The majority of the affected households are located in Sigi regency.
Authorities have reported at least 13 aftershocks thus far and have advised residents to steer clear of damaged structures until they are deemed safe. Earlier in the month, the BNPB had issued warnings for residents in northern coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground due to potential tsunami threats following a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines.
