Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures Aid for Earthquake Victims in North Maluku and North Sulawesi

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has ensured its preparedness to distribute aid to earthquake victims in North Maluku (Malut) and North Sulawesi (Sulut), with needs adjusted according to the evolving data collection phase by field teams.

“Our teams are already in the field and coordinating with local Social Services Offices. We will provide assistance based on the identified needs,” said Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf when met in Jakarta on Thursday.

Nevertheless, coordination processes are being conducted intensively, including through meetings held since morning to ensure a swift and targeted response.

Several personnel from the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Disaster Preparedness Cadre (Tagana) have been deployed earlier to the location to assist in emergency handling alongside the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), TNI, Polri, and volunteers from various regions.

“We will provide support as quickly as possible according to the needs in the field,” he said.

Previously, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southwest region of Batang Dua Island, Ternate, North Maluku, with significant tremors felt in several areas such as Ternate, Manado, and Gorontalo with varying intensities up to MMI IV scale.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded tsunami waves temporarily detected in several coastal areas, including West Halmahera at 0.30 metres, Bitung at 0.20 metres, and North Minahasa at 0.75 metres.

Meanwhile, the BNPB Central Operations Control Directorate reported that by Thursday afternoon, there was one fatality in Manado City, one person with minor injuries, and 16 families affected in Minahasa Regency.

For infrastructure damage, five government office units, one hotel, and one public facility in the form of the KONI building were recorded as damaged in Manado City. In Minahasa Regency, two hospitals were reported as severely damaged, more than 10 houses affected, one government office damaged, and one public facility also impacted.

In Ternate City, one church building and two house units were reported to have sustained damage due to the earthquake.