On 28 September 2018, a shallow, large earthquake struck in the neck of the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia, with its epicentre located in the mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi. Sulawesi lies within the complex zone of interaction between the Australian, Pacific, Philippine and Sunda Plates in which many small microplates are developed.
The earthquake was felt over a wide area. Noticeable shaking, ranging from II-III on the Mercalli intensity scale, was reported in Samarinda, Makassar and Tawau. The strongest shaking was felt in Donggala Regency where a maximum intensity of IX (violent) was recorded. The maximum intensity in Palu, the provincial capital of Central Sulawesi, was at VIII (severe).
According to the Indonesian Agency for the Assessment and Application for Technology (BPPT), energy released by the quake was 200 times to that released in the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Analysis also showed that the shoreline which was located near the rupture in Palu and Donggala had a decrease on its height. Height drops of 0.5–1 meter were recorded, while an increase of height of around 0.3 cm was recorded in Banawa.
The magnitude 7.5 quake was located 77 km (48 mi) away from the provincial capital Palu and was felt as far away as Samarinda on East Kalimantan and also in Tawau, Malaysia. This event was preceded by a sequence of foreshocks, the largest of which was a magnitude 6.1 tremor that occurred earlier that day.
Following the mainshock, a tsunami alert was issued for the nearby Makassar Strait, but was called off half an hour later. A localised tsunami struck Palu, sweeping shore-lying houses and buildings on its way.
The combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami led to the deaths of at least 2,256 people and 5000 gone missing.
In one of the worst disasters in modern history, the region was also hit by a devastating tsunami in December 2004, that claimed over 230,000 lives in 14 countries along the Indian Ocean, mostly in Indonesia.
This makes it the deadliest earthquake to strike the country since the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, as well as the deadliest earthquake worldwide in 2018, surpassing the previous earthquake that struck Lombok a few months earlier, killing more than 500. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) confirmed that a tsunami had been triggered, with its height reaching an estimated maximum of 4 to 7 metres (13 to 23 ft), striking the settlements of Palu, Donggala and Mamuju along its path.
The earthquake caused major soil liquefaction in areas in and around Palu. In two locations this led to mudflows in which many buildings became submerged causing hundreds of deaths with many more missing. The liquefaction was considered to be the largest in the world and was deemed as rare.
The IAEWP National Chancellor of Malaysia, Mr. Syed Araniri Al Idrus was appointed Chef De Mission by the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis (MAIPs) or the Islamic Council of the State of Perlis to deliver aids and building and repair works on the building structure of SURAU or place of worship for Muslims, very much smaller than a mosque. These suraus double up as relief centers as well as places of assembly and shelter during natural disasters and emergencies.
The Malaysian team visited Palu and Lombok from November 13-12, 2018; the team consisted of representatives of The Scouts Federation of Malaysia, Malaysian Youth Council, Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Perlis. Approximately USD 19,400 worth of materials and assistance was delivered by the team; this amount was collected from Islamic school children, fellow muslims and muslim organizations from Malaysia. It was a project by the muslim brotherhood of Malaysia for the suffering muslims of Indonesia.
IAEWP congratulates the National Chancellor of Malaysia, Mr. Syed Araniri for his dedication and hard work in successfully executing the above project.
Office of the IAEWP Executive Vice President 2,
Malaysia.
