Traumatized by 2021 quake, 50 families in Selayar remain in hill shelters

Fifty families in the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, are still residing in temporary shelters in hilly areas, deeply affected by the trauma of a devastating earthquake that struck the region in 2021.

These residents have chosen to remain in the shelters following a recent magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which they felt intensely. Their decision stems from a profound fear and past negative experiences with the powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake on December 14, 2021. That earlier quake caused severe damage to numerous homes, with some collapsing entirely.

According to Muhammad Ikbal, Head of Emergency and Logistics at the Selayar Islands Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), residents in the Pasimarannu and Pasilambena sub-districts are still traumatized. While most residents in Pasilambena have returned home, approximately 50 families, or about 20 percent of the total displaced in Pasimarannu, continue to stay in the hills. Some residents return to their homes during the day for activities but retreat to the shelters, located about seven kilometers away, by evening, indicating their persistent anxiety about potential aftershocks.

Beyond the psychological impact, the geographical challenges complicate aid delivery. The BPBD Selayar must undertake a 12-hour sea journey to reach the affected areas and distribute supplies. Currently, the displaced families are managing their basic needs independently. The recent magnitude 7.0 earthquake also caused physical damage in Selayar, with 13 houses reported damaged, nine lightly and four moderately. Some homes in Pasilambena were affected by seawater surges following the tremors, and several fishing boats were also damaged or washed ashore. Fortunately, no houses collapsed or casualties were reported in Selayar from this latest event.

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They are still traumatized by the similar incident in 2021, so about 50-odd families in Pasimarannu Subdistrict still choose to stay in the hilly areas.