REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The condition of the community in Central Sulawesi, in the aftermath of devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake and its ensuing tsunami, has in general been conducive and returned to normal, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Head of Data Center, Information and Public Relations, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
"The economy of local community is starting to run normally. Even the telecommunication and internet signals have recovered and electricity services have reached 94 percent normal," Sutopo said in a written message received here on Sunday.
He said four sub-districts in Sigi District, namely Lindu, Kulawi, South Kulawi and Titikor were still somewhat isolated because access to the area had been buried by landslides since last Sunday after a heavy rain caused landslides and floods in the region.
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Efforts to open the area by cleaning landslides with heavy equipment are still being carried out. Road access is carried out with the open and close system.
"Medium-sized trucks capable of carrying more than three tons of logistics cannot go through the road so the distribution of aid i done by using BNPB MI-8 helicopters," he explained.
Sutopo said the BNPB helicopter had made 18 flights to the area carrying 32.7 tons of logistical assistance.
As of October 28, 2,086 people died, 1,309 people were missing, 4,438 people were injured and 206,524 people were displaced in the earthquake and tsunami.