Foreign Ministry Dismisses Indonesian Quake Victims in Taiwan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, the director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and legal entities overseas at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, dismissed reports saying three Indonesian  had been killed in the earthquake that took place in Tainan, Taiwan, on Saturday, February 6, 2016. 

Until Saturday afternoon, the Indonesian Commerce and Economy Body (KDEI), as the representatives of the Indonesian government in Taiwan, had clarified the reports to the crisis center and local hospitals, and found no Indonesians on the list of victims. “Since journalists called us asking about three Indonesians reportedly killed, the KDEI team in Taipei clarified the report to the crisis center and referred hospitals. So far, the KDEI had received no information about Indonesians killed in the incident,” said Iqbal. 

Data from the Foreign Affairs Ministry shows that about 230,000 Indonesians are currently living in Taiwan, and approximately 17,000 of them are in Tainan. “The KDEI in Taipei would continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with authorities in Taiwan in order to provide assistance for Indonesians affected by the earthquake,” Sofia Sudarma, director for information and media at the ministry, said in a press release.

The Indonesian government has extended deep condolences to victims and their families. The KDEI has opened a hotline at +88697407214.

NATALIA SANTI