BNPB Requests Basarnas to Form Special Team for Earthquake Victim Data in North Sulawesi-North Maluku

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, has requested that the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) form a special team to register residents affected by the earthquake disaster in North Sulawesi and North Maluku. He stated that the team aims to ensure the accurate recording of the number of survivors and fatalities. “There may still be other victims who need to be found, located, and assisted; search and rescue teams will be formed immediately,” said Suharyanto, quoting a statement from Bakom RI on Thursday (2/4). Suharyanto noted that President Prabowo Subianto has also instructed BNPB and relevant agencies to immediately head to the affected locations. He said Prabowo has received reports on this earthquake and has directly ordered that emergency handling be carried out as quickly as possible. “We have been instructed, and this morning we must already depart for the disaster area,” he stated. Furthermore, BNPB has requested that all elements in the regions, from Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), to ministries and institutions, collaborate to activate emergency response posts. “From those posts, ensure that the basic needs of affected communities, such as food logistics, clothing, clean water, and so on, are properly fulfilled,” he said. In addition, he has asked local governments to record and verify the damages caused by this disaster, including residents’ homes, hospitals, and other public facilities. Suharyanto conveyed that the government has continuously updated the early warning system over the past four years, particularly to address earthquakes and tsunamis. He stated that enhancing the capacity of this early warning system is a government priority. He explained that strengthening this system does not stop at the policy level but is also realised through the construction of early warning infrastructure in disaster-prone areas. He gave an example in North Sulawesi and North Maluku, which were recently shaken by the earthquake, where their BPBDs have been equipped with various early warning devices. Suharyanto said the system was quite effective when the earthquake occurred on Thursday (2/4) morning. “Reports from the Head of BPBD in both North Sulawesi and North Maluku indicate that the sirens sounded, so at least the public received initial information about the earthquake disaster, even with the potential for a tsunami,” he said. An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the waters off Bitung, North Sulawesi, on Thursday (2/4) morning. Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, stated that a tsunami was detected in West Halmahera with a height of 0.3 metres at 06:08 WIB and in Bitung at 0.2 metres at 06:15 WIB. Although relatively small, this situation still requires vigilance as the potential for follow-up waves remains. BNPB has urged the public, especially those in coastal areas of North Sulawesi and North Maluku, to stay away from the beaches and not return to vulnerable areas until an official safety statement is issued by the government. The public is also asked to remain calm, follow instructions from local authorities, and not spread unverified information. He said monitoring and information updates will continue according to developments on the ground. Abdul stated that as of 07:00 WIB, two aftershocks were recorded, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale at 06:07 WIB and 5.2 at 06:12 WIB. Both aftershocks were centred at sea and posed no tsunami risk but were still felt by residents in the affected areas.