TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Palu Mayor Hidayat claims he never received research documents on the dangers of Palu’s liquefaction zone even though he had checked the existence of documents that are linked to the natural phenomenon at the Spatial Planning Agency.

“No geological team ever came, nor do we have them,” said Hidayat in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Wednesday, October 10.

Hidayat’s statement is a response to previous reports that suggest a researcher from the Geological Engineering from the Center for Groundwater and Environmental Geology of the Geological Agency, Taufik Wira Buana had conducted a research toward liquefaction back in 2012 and submitted the results to local administration.

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The mapping had three areas with a probability of experiencing liquefaction in extremely high, high, and low altitudes.

Despite claiming that he never received such research report, Hidayat stated that there will be a number of researchers that will be involved in Palu’s reconstruction period. “I heard that an expert had arrived and that the person will help map-out the vulnerable areas,” said Hidayat.

The land liquefaction phenomenon in Central Sulawesi was felt across several areas, such as Balaroa, Patobo, and Sigi, which has claimed at least 5,000 lives that have been buried underground together with their houses.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA