Several Untad Campus Buildings Damaged by Palu Earthquake

Several educational facilities at Tadulako University (Untad) in Palu, Central Sulawesi, have been reported damaged after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook the city on Tuesday (16/6/2026) afternoon. Based on initial data gathered by the university, the damage affected a number of buildings that, ironically, had only recently been rehabilitated and reconstructed following the major disaster in 2018. Untad Rector Prof. Amar confirmed that there have been no reports of fatalities or injuries resulting from the incident. “To date, no casualties or injuries have been reported due to the earthquake,” Prof. Amar stated in a written release in Palu on Tuesday. Data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicates the earthquake occurred at 11.27 WITA. The epicentre was located at coordinates 1.03 degrees South Latitude and 120.24 degrees East Longitude, approximately 42 kilometres southeast of Palu City, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. A joint team from the State Property division and Untad’s technical unit has conducted an initial identification, revealing varying degrees of damage ranging from wall cracks to compromised learning facilities. The university will immediately carry out a comprehensive technical assessment to ensure the structural safety of the buildings before they are used again for academic activities. Prof. Amar emphasised that the assessment results will form the basis for determining subsequent mitigation measures to guarantee the safety of the entire academic community. Furthermore, the incident will serve as crucial evaluation material for higher education infrastructure reconstruction programmes in disaster-prone areas. “We will communicate the progress of the assessment and related policies on academic activities through the official channels of Tadulako University,” he concluded.