REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALU -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed that foreign assistance to deal with the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi had begun to enter the area. Earlier, friendly countries have stated their willingness to help Indonesia in handling the disaster.
"Aid planes have begun entering," President Jokowi informed reporters while visiting the disaster site in Petobo Village, South Palu Sub-district, Palu City, Wednesday.
The head of state noted that three days ago, King Salman from Saudi Arabia had called him. Likewise, the Australian prime minister had called President Jokowi two days ago.
"Last night, US President Donald Trump also called me," he stated.
President Joko Widodo (white shirt) visits Petobo, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday (Oct 3).
According to President Jokowi, they are friendly countries that have expressed their commitment as good friends for the search and reconstruction phases.
On the occasion, President Jokowi also clarified that there was no looting at the disaster site. The former governor of DKI Jakarta stated that he had instructed the Military commander and the chief of Police to guard all vital points.
"There is no such thing as looting, there cannot be," he stated.
Regarding the need for new settlements, President Jokowi has communicated with the governor and regent and mayor regarding the need for research on the fault points or lines in the area.
"I convey to the governors and district heads that the community is invited to hold discussions to be moved to another place, and I have delivered even 20 km from here, but it is safe in the long run," he added.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Friday's Donggala-Palu earthquake and tsunami has risen to 1,407. National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Head for Data, Information, and Public Relations Center Sutopo Purwo Nugroho revealed the data in a press conference here on Wednesday.
"Some 519 dead people have been buried after being identified," Sutopo noted.
Sutopo remarked that the city of Palu had the highest number of dead, reaching 1,177 people. He remarked that the joint search and rescue team had continued to prioritize the capital of Central Sulawesi for the evacuation of victims.
In addition to Palu, the death toll in Donggala District had reached 153 while 12 in Parigi Moutong District and 65 in Sigi District. He said the number of dead will continue to increase.
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