Following a relatively minor, but shallow, 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Cianjur, West Java, more than 340 people are reported dead or missing.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency claimed that 368 schools, 62,000 housing units, and about 7700 persons were either damaged or destroyed, along with 73,000 people who were relocated.
The earthquake, which was felt strongly for three to ten seconds in the West Java Province’s Sukabumi District, Sukabumi City, Bandung District, Cianjur District, Bogor District, and Bogor City, the DKI Jakarta Province’s Jakarta City, and the Province of Banten’s Bekasi City, caused panic among the locals.
The earthquake triggered landslides that swept entire villages away and made it difficult for many injured people to get to Cianjur’s major hospital. When they arrived, the situation was even more chaotic. The hospital was also partially destroyed, and physicians were attempting to fulfill their duties without electricity.
Indonesian Red Cross relief and emergency teams have been deployed to help with evacuations, providing first aid, distribute clean water, establish emergency kitchens and emergency relief, focusing on most affected areas. We also mobilized 5 units of ambulance, medical personnel and volunteers to help with urgent evacuation and ground assessment.
Sudirman Said, Secretary General of Indonesian Red Cross
The November 21st earthquake was centered 10 kilometers southwest of Cianjur district in West Java at a depth of 10 kilometers. It struck at 1:21 pm local time. Following the earthquake, no tsunami warning was issued. According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, earthquakes can occur again every 20 years.
Residents will get help worth 50 million rupiah for homes that were severely damaged in the earthquake, 25 million rupiah for homes that were moderately damaged, and 10 million rupiah for homes that were slightly affected.
