Central Sulawesi Earthquake: Social Affairs Minister Deploys Teams and Sets Up Public Kitchens

Social Affairs Minister (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, stated that he has deployed teams to assist victims of the earthquake in Central Sulawesi (Sulteng). “Of course, the team is already in the field, we are under the coordination of BNPB,” Gus Ipul told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.

Gus Ipul explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) will assist with logistics, erect tents, and set up public kitchens for the victims. “The Ministry of Social Affairs will help with the necessary logistics available in the Ministry’s stock. We will also set up tents as usual when disasters occur during emergency periods. We also have logistical support to establish public kitchens,” he said.

Additionally, Gus Ipul stated that Kemensos will coordinate with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) in distributing aid to the victims. “While we will certainly provide other necessary assistance in cooperation with the TNI, Polri, and the local government,” Gus Ipul concluded.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicentre of the tectonic earthquake was located at coordinates 1.13 South Latitude and 120.23 East Longitude, precisely 42 kilometres southeast of Palu City. Tremors were also felt in several areas of Poso and Parigi Moutong Regencies.

Meanwhile, the Central Sulawesi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded that 841 houses were damaged by the magnitude 6.7 tectonic earthquake that shook several areas in Central Sulawesi on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. Andi Sembiring, Head of Emergency and Logistics at BPBD Central Sulawesi, said in Palu on Wednesday that Sigi Regency was the area with the most significant damage. “A total of 800 houses were damaged in Sigi Regency, consisting of 720 lightly damaged, 68 moderately damaged, and 12 heavily damaged,” he said.

In addition to houses, damage also occurred to two office buildings, 15 places of worship, one micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) unit, and a bridge connecting Kamora B Village and Tongoa Village. He explained that preliminary data collection results show the damage is spread across Sigi Regency, Parigi Moutong, Palu City, and Poso Regency.