TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s motorcade stopped in front of the local market Pasar Tanjung in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, that was severely damaged by the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the region on August 5.

The head of the palace's press bureau Bey Machmudin said that Jokowi and several state officials accompanied him into the market’s area. “Once the motorcade passed the Pasar Tanjung, the car that the president was riding in stopped and observed the market’s building structure that was damaged by the earthquake,” said Bey in a press release on Tuesday, August 14.

Prior to his visit to the market, Jokowi paid visit to the Tanjung regional general hospital (RSUD) which was also in a devastating condition following the earthquake.
Bey stated that Jokowi had personally ordered Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to repair the damaged buildings. “We will start to repair them this week,” said Minister Basuki.

During his visit to Lombok, Jokowi was accompanied by Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Hadi Tjahjanto, head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei, and West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi.

BNPB reported that the magnitude 7 quake that struck Lombok killed at least 437 people and forced 352,793 people to take refuge. The earthquake also damaged 52,812 houses.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI