Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo called on his staff to promptly help communities impacted by the earthquake in West Pasaman, West Sumatra Province, on Friday.
"I urge the regional police to immediately take steps to help the affected communities," Prabowo noted in a written statement, Friday.
Prabowo had especially urged the ranks of the West Sumatra regional police to provide shelters or refugee tents to the affected people and conduct evacuation for residents in need.
"We will start by preparing evacuation places or shelters to conducting evacuation for victims and initiating assistance for the victims as well," he remarked.
In addition, he requested doctors and health workers to be deployed for the initial treatment of earthquake victims.
Related news: West Pasaman experienced 15 aftershocks following 6.1-magnitude quake
Apart from the West Sumatra regional police, Prabowo ensured that the National Police Headquarters would be immediately deployed to handle the natural disaster recovery process.
The teams deployed from the National Police Headquarters will comprise personnel from the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), Disaster Victim Identification (DVI), Samapta team, and psychologists to conduct trauma healing for disaster-affected communities.
"Other personnel are needed to assist the rescue process and handle victims," the former Banten Police Chief stated.
He is optimistic that prompt actions of the police would be able to ease the burden on the people affected by the natural disaster.
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Temporary data indicated that the earthquake claimed the lives of four residents, caused injuries to dozens of people, and also damaged several buildings.
Prabowo also expressed his deep condolences to the people who died and those affected by the 6.1-magnitude earthquake on Friday morning.
"We extend our condolences to all victims affected by the natural disaster," he remarked.
Earlier, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the earthquake originated 10 km underground and about 17 km northeast of the West Pasaman region.
The earthquake was also felt in the regions of West Pasaman, Pasaman, Agam, Bukittinggi, Padang Panjang, Padang, Payakumbuh, Aek Godang, Gunung Sitoli, Rantau Parapat, Nias Selatan, and Bangkinang.
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