Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Strikes Palu, Pelindo Confirms Pantoloan Container Terminal Facilities Safe
Operational activities at the Pantoloan Container Terminal (TPK) in Central Sulawesi were temporarily halted after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Palu, Poso, and surrounding areas on Tuesday (16/6). Executive Director 4 of Pelindo Regional 4, Abdul Azis, stated that the measure was taken as part of emergency response procedures to ensure worker safety and the security of terminal facilities. “Initial inspection results indicate there were no casualties or significant damage to the port’s operational facilities. However, the safety of workers, service users, and the community remains the company’s top priority in dealing with emergency conditions,” Abdul Azis explained.
The earthquake, which occurred at around 10:37 Wita, was also felt in the TPK Pantoloan area managed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo. Immediately after the earthquake, all workers and operational officers promptly carried out evacuation and emergency response procedures in accordance with applicable occupational safety and health standards.
“We immediately activated emergency response procedures after the earthquake was felt. All operational activities were temporarily suspended to ensure personnel safety and provide space for the team to conduct a thorough inspection of the terminal facilities. Based on the initial inspection results, there were no casualties or significant damage that could disrupt the integrity of the port facilities,” he said.
He emphasised that Pelindo continues to coordinate with relevant agencies, including disaster authorities and other authorised parties, to monitor the situation’s development and ensure all safety aspects are met before operations resume normally.
Meanwhile, General Manager of Pelindo Regional 4 Pantoloan, Chaerur Rijal, explained that the Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) Team, together with technical officers, had inspected all vital areas of the terminal, including dock facilities, loading and unloading equipment, container stacking yards, operational buildings, and other supporting utilities.
“The inspection results show that the terminal facilities are generally safe and no damage was found that impacts operational safety. Nevertheless, we continue to carry out further monitoring and comprehensive evaluation as an anticipatory measure before service activities are resumed,” said Chaerur Rijal.
According to him, the condition of TPK Pantoloan is currently safe and under control. Pelindo has also ensured that all personnel remain on standby and continue to monitor official information from authorised agencies regarding post-earthquake developments. Chaerur Rijal added that his party is committed to always prioritising safety aspects in every operational activity and ensuring port services continue to run by upholding the principles of prudence and risk mitigation.