India Rushes Navy Ships To Earthquake-Hit Sulawesi

Four days after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that has so far claimed over 1,200 people in Indonesia's Sulawesi, the Indian Navy is rushing aid and relief material to the island. Indian Navy ships Tir, Sujata, and Shardul are heading for the worst affected Palu city in Sulawesi island with over 30,000 litres of bottled drinking water, 1500 litres of packaged juice, 500 litres of milk, 700 kg biscuits, 20 tents, and other Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) material.

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According to Navy spokesperson, the ships had been diverted to Indonesia from Singapore where they had been deployed on a training mission. An estimated 59,000 people have been displaced by the quake and the subsequent tsunami that washed away large tracts of central Sulawesi.

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Days after the tragedy, aid is barely trickling in and people's patience is wearing thin as supplies of fresh water, food, and fuel have run out in the worst affected Palu and Donggala cities. Widespread looting has also been reported from across the island. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on October 1, 2018, and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country.

(All pictures from Indonesian Navy western fleet)

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The Prime Minister offered his condolences on the loss of lives, a PMO statement said, adding that the PM appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the widespread devastation due to the grave natural calamity.

Palu, the Indonesian city devastated by an earthquake, tsunamis and mudslides, has sought to build itself up as a major trading hub. But the city’s concrete and traditional-style buildings and other infrastructure were no match for the triple whammy that has left more than 1,200 people dead.

The disasters that struck late Friday left the city’s port in ruins, its lone gantry crane atilt in the water. Its airport terminal was a sea of shattered glass and broken ceiling panels.