The Jakarta Post
Authorities have closed Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, following a powerful earthquake that struck the province at 6:02 p.m. local time on Friday.
A notification letter from Air Nav Indonesia announced on Friday evening that the closure would be effective from 7:26 p.m. local time on Friday until 7:20 p.m. on Saturday.
The Ramayana department store in Palu, Central Sulawesi, is severely damaged after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday afternoon. (Courtesy of BNPB/-)
The province experience two major earthquakes on Friday with several aftershocks. First, a 5.9-magnitude quake killed at least one person and injured at least 10 others in Donggala regency. That was followed by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake at 6:02 p.m.
As of 7:40 p.m. Jakarta time, authorities had yet to announce the extent of the damage. However, a picture shared by the spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) showed a severely damaged Ramayana department store in Palu, and videos circulating on social media showed a high tidal wave smashing into the Baiturrahman Mosque near the Palu Grand Mall on Palu's coast. (evi)