Sulawesi quake: Palu IV Bridge collapses

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Aerial view shows a bridge connecting the West Palu and East Palu collapsed due to the tsunami and a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richer scale earthquake. – Bernama photo

KOTA PALU: The Palu IV Bridge is an iconic symbol of the city of Palu which is often the focus of domestic and foreign tourists.

The yellow bridge located on Talise Bay presented beautiful views of the blue sea with the backdrop of the mountains in Central Sulawesi. In addition, it also connected East Palu and West Palu.

However, the earthquake and tsunami on Sept 28, had transformed the entire landscape of the bay for more than five kilometres, even the bridge which was built in 2006, had collapsed.

Local resident, Mei Yulianita, 34, said the bay was the starting point of the tsunami which went on a ‘rampage’ resulting in many deaths.

“The incident happened in the evening. This bay alone, from the Palu Nusantara Anjungan Monument in the east to Palu Grand Mall in the north, involves a distance of more than five kilometres. The water came very fast, pushing everything in front of it … people screamed and ran desperately to save themselves, “she said when met at the ruins of the bridge.

Mei said during the incident she was doing housekeeping work on the fourth floor of a hotel on the Talise Beach.

“I am grateful that my place of work (the hotel) did not collapse but only sustained substantial damage on the left side of the hotel building, otherwise I would be dead too.

“The majority of the population here, who depends on tourism as a source of income, ‘as if had a broken leg’ when the food stalls, hotels and chalets were completely destroyed,” she said.

According to her, when the waves hit the bay, there was a major event taking place, namely, the Pesona Palu Nomoni Festival (FPPN).

The FPPN is the city’s annual event and has entered its third year of its inauguration from Sept 28-30.

“All the people who participated in the festival were killed by the tsunami. Among the high number of victims were foreign tourists. FPPN was held to restore the culture that had been abandoned decades ago, and the highlight of the ceremony was to perform a customary ritual of the Kaili Tribe from Balia’s custom, namely, Pompoura, “He said.

He said Pompoura was performed by trampling burning ember and the local community believed it could drive away diseases.

According to the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), the number of victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi has now risen to 1,571 people as of 6 pm Friday. – Bernama