A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Indonesia’s Sulawesi island Tuesday, displacing at least 109 people and injuring 32, with 64 houses and critical public infrastructure sustaining damage. This recurring devastation disproportionately impacts the working class, while a four-star hotel reported only minor damage, its general manager confirming all guests were safe.
The initial quake was centered inland about 43 kilometers (27 miles) east-southeast of Palu, a city of about 400,000 people and the capital of Central Sulawesi province. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake was approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep.
The strong shaking sent residents fleeing into open areas in and around Palu. Several hospitals evacuated patients, some still with IV drips, outdoors as a safety measure to protect against further structural collapse.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least 109 people have been displaced by the earthquake, with 32 individuals reported injured and rushed to a nearby hospital. Eight of these sustained serious injuries in the hardest-hit Sigi regency, according to Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesperson.
Four regencies close to the epicenter, with a combined population of 1.3 million, have yet to be fully assessed for the extent of damage and human cost.
Unequal Impact of Disaster
The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, including 64 houses, four places of worship, four public facilities, two bridges, and two government office buildings. A cafe and a hotel were also affected, and a section of a provincial road linking Palu city with Sigi and Poso regencies was cut.
In contrast to the extensive damage to public infrastructure and private homes, Effendi Natali, a general manager of a four-star hotel in Palu, stated, “We have evacuated all guests from the hotel, including several guests who remained in their rooms.” Natali added, “They all panicked, which is a natural reaction during an earthquake, but everyone is safe,” and confirmed that the hotel sustained only minor damage.
At least 55 aftershocks continued throughout the day, prompting residents to flee buildings and gather in open areas, raising concerns among a population already shaken by past disasters.
A History of Neglect and Trauma
Palu resident Muhtar Ahmad articulated the ongoing trauma, stating, “The earthquake shaking was extremely strong,” and adding, “We are still traumatized by the previous earthquake, so we chose to remain outside because we are afraid that aftershocks may continue.”
Many Sulawesi residents are haunted by the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated Palu in 2018, which is now marking its eighth anniversary. That event triggered a 3-meter (10-foot) high tsunami and a phenomenon called liquefaction, where soil collapses. More than 4,000 people were killed, with entire neighborhoods swallowed by the falling ground.
More recently, in January 2021, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near the city of Mamuju on Sulawesi island left at least 100 people dead. Thousands were forced to sleep outdoors for days out of fear of aftershocks, marking the fifth year since that disaster.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. This geological reality, combined with inadequate investment in resilient public housing and infrastructure, leaves working-class communities in perpetual vulnerability.
The State's Role in Managing Crisis
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency stated there was no danger of a tsunami but warned aftershocks could continue. People also moved away from coastal areas as a precaution. The National Disaster Management Agency continues to issue preliminary reports on the damage and casualties, managing the immediate aftermath of a crisis that repeatedly exposes the structural precarity faced by the dispossessed.