Palu is a chartered city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, at the mouth of the Palu River. It is the capital of the province of Central Sulawesi, situated on a long, narrow bay. Because of its sheltered position between mountain ridges, the climate is unusually dry. At the 2015 census Palu had a population of around 367,600, not including those living in neighboring regencies. On 28 September 2018, the city suffered many casualties due to a tsunami, where at least 2,256 people lost their lives, while many others are still buried under the rubble and presumed dead.