“14 people still missing”… 7,700 injured, 58,000 houses damaged
The death toll from the Qianjur earthquake, West Java, Indonesia has risen to 318.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on the afternoon of the 26th (local time) that 14 people are still missing.
Earlier, on the 21st, an earthquake of magnitude 5.6 occurred in this area.
The death toll immediately after the earthquake was initially known to be 160, but as the search progressed the number of victims continued to rise and by the 25th it had risen to 310.
As of 26, the number of wounded was 7,729 and the number of homes damaged was 58,049.
An official from the authorities explained that 73,693 people have been displaced.
Authorities are conducting a search operation mobilizing more than 1,000 rescuers, heavy equipment and detection dogs.
The Disaster Prevention Agency said it has so far provided refugees with 200 tents, 6,000 blankets and 5,000 mattresses, as well as providing food support.
However, search and rescue work is known to be very difficult as it rains as aftershocks continue on the site.
According to Indonesia’s Bureau of Meteorology, Climate and Geology (BMKG), about 240 aftershocks followed after the earthquake on the 21st.
Among these were strong aftershocks of magnitude 4.2.
Indonesia is located in the so-called ‘Ring of Fire’, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, so earthquakes occur frequently.
In December 2004, a large-scale tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake occurred, killing a total of 220,000 people, including 170,000 Indonesians.
/yunhap news
