PM Wong conveys condolences after deadly earthquakes in Indonesia

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his condolences to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto following a series of deadly earthquakes that struck the archipelago on Saturday, August 15.

A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake hit off Indonesia's Flores island, resulting in at least 53 fatalities and over 130 injuries. Hours later, a separate magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Sumatra, though no casualties were reported from this event.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr Wong shared his sadness over the loss of life and the devastation caused by the quakes. He extended his deepest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and all those affected by the tragedy. "Our thoughts are with the people of Indonesia during this difficult time, and with the authorities and emergency personnel working tirelessly on relief and recovery efforts," Wong stated.

The earthquake near Flores island was Indonesia's deadliest since a 2022 quake in West Java that claimed hundreds of lives. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the East Nusa Tenggara province, where approximately 5,000 people have been evacuated. The country's disaster agency has recorded nearly 1,000 aftershocks since the initial earthquake. Power supply has largely been restored, but efforts continue to repair distribution lines.

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Our thoughts are with the people of Indonesia during this difficult time, and with the authorities and emergency personnel working tirelessly on relief and recovery efforts.