Indonesia’s earthquake: Vietnamese students safe

The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia is taking action to soon bring 10 Vietnamese students out of Palu, which was hit by a strong earthquake and tsunami on September 28, to Jakarta.
Vietnamese students in Palu gather at Palu airport (Source: VNA)

Vietnamese students in Palu gather at Palu airport (Source: VNA)

The embassy has sent official dispatches to Indonesia’s authorised offices, while Ambassador Pham Vinh Quang has contacted the Deputy Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of Indonesia to ask for support.

The students were brought to Palu airport and have been provided with food and drink to await for their transfer to Jakarta.

However, the Indonesian side said the damaged airport has yet to resume normal operations. At present, military flights transporting injured victims and the elderly and relief supplies are being prioritised.

The embassy is keeping contact with the students, while asking Indonesian authorities to arrange a flight for them as soon as possible.

Spokesman of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Spetember 30 that rescuers were searching for survivors of the earthquake and tsunami who may be buried under collapsed buildings and hotels.

About 50 tourists, including one from the Republic of Korea (RoK), were said to be trapped inside the debris of the Roa Roa hotel, Nugroho stated.

Search and rescue activities are facing many difficulties due to power cuts and a lack of excavators, he added.

Relief aid continues to be provided for Indonesia after the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

The RoK Foreign Ministry on September 30 committed 1 million USD to help victims and reconstruction work in Indonesia. The ministry also plans to send a working group to assist in search and rescue missions.

In a letter sent to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, RoK President Moon Jae-in extended his condolences to Indonesian people, hoping the search and rescue work would be successful.

On the same day, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping also sent a letter of condolences to Widodo, in which he affirmed China is willing to provide support for Indonesia.

The Australian government also vowed to help Indonesia recover after the earthquake and tsunami.

Suwelasi island was ravaged by two quakes measuring 6.1 and 7.5 on the Richter scale on September 28. A tsunami struck after the second quake in the afternoon of the same day.

The BNPB announced on September 30 afternoon the death toll had risen to 832. Around 820 victims have been found in Palu and the rest, in Donggala.

Meanwhile, 540 others were injured and are receiving treatment at hospitals. The disaster has also displaced more than 16,000 people taking shelter at 24 camps across the region.

VNA

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.