UAE leaders express condolences after dozens killed in Indonesia earthquake

President Sheikh Khalifa offered his condolences to Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo after island of Sulawesi is rocked by 6.2 magnitude earthquake

A man walks by a damaged hospital in Mamuju city after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city, after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city. AFP

Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city. AFP

Residents crowd a road as they attempt to leave Mamuju. AFP

A damaged car and buildings are seen following an earthquake in Mamuju. Reuters

People look at the damaged province's office of governor of West Sulawesi following an earthquake in Mamuju. Reuters

Rescuers search for survivors at the Mitra Manakarra hospital in Mamuju city. AFP2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. / AFP / Firdaus

Rescuers look for survivors trapped in a collapsed building in Mamuju. National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) / AFP

A collapsed building following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Mamuju. BASARNAS / EPA

Rescuers search for victims under the rubble of a collapsed building in Mamuju. BASARNAS / EPA

A shakemap made available by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows the location of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. EPA

President Sheikh Khalifa expressed his condolences after a deadly earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, claiming the lives of dozens of people.

The UAE leader sent a message of support to the country's president, Joko Widodo, after at least 45 people died, with hundreds more injured and thousands displaced by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, also offered their sympathies in a show of solidarity with the people of Indonesia.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed conveyed his best wishes in a message on Twitter on Friday evening.

"My sincere condolences to my friend, Joko Widodo and the Indonesian people affected by the earthquake in Sulawesi," he said.

"We pray God grants the Indonesian people strength, and a speedy recovery for the injured. The UAE stands in solidarity with Indonesia."

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity because of its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.

In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia.