REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on inhabitants of Solo and surrounding areas to pray for victims of earthquake and tsunami in Palu and Donggala, Central Sulawesi Province. The Head of State accompanied by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Central Java Police Chief Ins Gen Condro Kirono, attended a mass prayer event organized for the natural disasters' victims.

Following the prayers led by KH Al Munawar and participated in by several thousand people, Jokowi on Sunday was scheduled to leave for Palu to observe the condition in the capital of Central Sulawesi Province. He will lead humanitarian operation in the province, which was hit by magnitude-7.4 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami last Friday (Sept 28).

Meanwhile, Vice President M Jusuf Kalla offered his condolences and sympathy for the Central Sulawesi's people who became victims of earthquake and tsunami. "We are very surprised, (and) will soon help (regrading) the sorrow and sympathy of the entire nation, the government will prepare what the victims need," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said during a transit in Hong Kong on Saturday afternoon local time.

Currently, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto and Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Thahjanto, as well as Chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) M Syaugi are already in Palu. At least 100 rescue personnel have been deployed to search and help victims of the natural disasters in Palu and Donggala.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), a total of 2.4 million people have been affected by the quake in 13 sub-districts in Donggala and eight sub-districts in Palu. As of Saturday evening, the number of evacuees in Palu has been estimated at 16,700 people, being housed at 24 locations.

"Until 05:00 p.m. on Saturday, based on preliminary data, a total of 384 people have died, and 29 in Pantoloan Induk, Palu city, remain missing," BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

A total of 540 people have been injured and treated in five hospitals.

BNPB Chief Wilem Rampangilei said, however, that the number of deaths from the earthquake had risen to 420.

"This is the number recorded in Palu only. It has not covered Donggala and Sigi districts," he noted, replying to Antara on Saturday evening.

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