REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A number of aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) had been deployed to transport logistical aid supplies to Palu, Central Sulawesi. Those aricraft were used to evacuate wounded victims of earthquake and tsunami to Makassar, Couth Sulawesi, on Saturday evening.

Head of Antara Bureau in Central Sulawesi, Rolex Malaha, said at least three TNI AU planes had arrived at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri in Palu on Saturday afternoon carrying aid supplies for the earthquake and tsunami victims. After unloading all the logistical aid supplies, the planes were then used to evacuate around 200 priority victims.

The operation was personally led by the chief of the 2nd Air Force Operations Command, Rear Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo. The Mutiara Sis Al Jufri airport has been accessible for military planes especially for distributing aid supplies but it has not yet been able to be used for commercial flights.

At 15.00 hours Central Indonesia Time, Coordinating Minister for Security, Political and Legal Affairs Wiranto arrived at the airport along with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and several other high-ranking officials.

They immediately held a coordination meeting with local officials with regard to implementing emergency response. Residents in Palu and surrounding areas face problems of water supply and fuel oil as power is still down.

A 7.4-magnitude quake hit Central Sulawesi on Friday evening and caused a tsunami leaving 420 people dead so far. The head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Willem Rampangilei, said until Saturday evening, there have been 10,000 evacuees housed in 50 locations in the city of Palu.

"They will be given shelter, food and medicines," he said.

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