Mathias Hariyadi

"The positive impact will result in 6.54 per cent economic growth in Bali province alone", said Minister Pandjaitan. Indonesian companies sign 19 important deals with foreign partners worth a US$ 13.1 billion. Private sector representatives held 2,000 meetings during summit.

The annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (Wbg) are currently underway in Bali. The Indonesian president: "Developing countries suffer enormous market pressure". During the summit, Indonesian companies sign important agreements with foreign partners.

They were all resident in the regency of Sumenep, (province of East Java) and include Nuril Kamiliya, 7, of Prambanan. The authorities located the epicenter of the quake 61 km northeast of the city of Situbondo (East Java). Citizens invited not to "feed" tensions, spreading "fake news" on the impact of the earthquake and providing "distorted information".

The two financial agencies organise fund-raising at their annual meeting, currently underway, in Nusa Dua. Some 2 billion rupiah have been raised. For IMG managing director Christian Lagarde, “what we have seen in Palu and in Lombok today [will remain] very much in our minds.”

The province of Central Sulawesi, the epicentre of the disaster, is located in the territory of the Diocese of Manado (North Sulawesi). Mgr Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu praises the "generosity and solidarity" volunteers found on their long trip to Palu.

Catholics bring help and raise funds for victims. Church authorities and volunteers deploy great efforts. The series of quakes, followed by a tsunami, left 1,411 people dead, more than a hundred missing, and 2,500 injured, including 799 in serious conditions. Pope Francis donates US$ 100,000.

The authorities ordered the population to stay more than 4 km away from the crater. In the meantime, the hopes of rescuing the missing in the September 28th disaster are fading. The number of verified victims rises to 1,407. President Widodo again visiting the disaster sites.

Thousands of people still struggling to escape from the affected areas. In the Palu area, over 2,400 homes have been swallowed up by the earth. The bodies of 34 young theology students recovered form a church overwhelmed by a landslide. Solidarity and prayers from the archdiocese of Seoul.

For Fr Banu Kurnianto, director of Caritas Indonesia, “an on-the-spot assessment is needed to establish what kind of emergency measures should be taken”. Catholic staff and volunteers are closely working with the dioceses of Manado and Makassar. The Catholic Doctor Community is also involved on the ground. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Palu has suffered damages.

The death toll is destined to rise: thousands are missing feared dead. Rescue teams race against the weather and lack of heavy equipment or machinery. President Widodo: "Priority to save the missing". The displaced persons are over 17 thousand. They have found shelter in at least 24 centers set up in military bases, churches, schools and other open spaces.

A first earthquake of magnitude 7.4 hit Donggala at 18.02 last night. A few minutes later, another 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Palu, the provincial capital. Waves up to 3 meters high crashed into the coast between 18.22 and 18.36. Communications between agencies and rescue teams are made even more difficult by the widespread lack of electricity. Palu airport closed.

The Working Group for Priestly Education organised a three-day conference in Bali. Priests and religious are called to pay particular attention to the victims. The consequences of such acts on minors make it necessary to have a "fraternal and compassionate" approach towards them and their families.