"Additional Damage Assessment Planned with Necessary Consular Assistance"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] There have been no reported Korean casualties from the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck the western part of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.
On the 16th, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated regarding the earthquake that occurred on the 15th (local time), "The affected area is not a region where our nationals reside," and added, "So far, there have been no reports of Korean casualties."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continuously monitor the local situation and provide consular assistance. The official added, "The Ministry will maintain close contact with the Korean community to assess any additional damage and provide consular support if necessary."
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck central Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, resulting in at least 30 deaths and over 600 injuries. Many residents remain trapped under collapsed building debris, raising concerns that the scale of damage may increase.
According to foreign media including AFP, at approximately 2:28 a.m. on the 15th (local time), a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred 36 km south of Mamuju, a city in western Sulawesi Island. According to the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake's hypocenter was shallow at a depth of 10 km, which caused significant damage due to building collapses. Following the earthquake, thousands of residents in Mamuju and the nearby city of Majene fled their homes and evacuated to higher ground. No tsunami warning was issued.
The cities of Mamuju and Majene, located near the epicenter, experienced several earthquakes including a magnitude 5.7 tremor the previous afternoon, followed by the magnitude 6.2 quake early that morning. The early morning earthquake caused numerous buildings such as houses, hospitals, hotels, and offices to collapse, trapping many people under debris before they could escape, resulting in numerous casualties. Indonesian authorities dispatched search and rescue teams at dawn to begin recovery efforts.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
