Earthquake and Tsunami Reconnaissance Report (31 October 2018 - 8 November 2018, Palu – Indonesia)

On 28 September 2018 at 6:02 pm local time (10:02 UTC), a M 7.5 earthquake struck Central Sulawesi, with its epicenter approximately located 70 km (44 miles) north of Palu. The earthquake and its subsequent landslide, liquefaction and tsunami have caused 2,081 fatalities, with estimated 1,309 still missing or buried. Approximately 68,000 houses were damaged, and about 206,000 people displaced from their home. It is estimated that 94km2 area of central Sulawesi was exposed to landslides and 300km2 to liquefaction, and the population exposed to landslide and liquefaction were 5,600 and 110,000, respectively.

Four cities, 17 sub-districts, and 24 villages were visited with a total of 157 houses and 12 school buildings evaluated. Twenty-eight homeowners and eight builders were interviewed.