Collapsed roofs, destroyed buildings: A 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Indonesian province of West Java. Even in the capital, 100 kilometers away, the earthquake can be clearly felt. Several people die, many are injured. And the danger is not over yet.
According to preliminary official information, an earthquake on Indonesia’s main island of Java killed more than 40 people and injured hundreds more. So far there have been 46 fatalities, said the spokesman for the city administration of the most affected city of Cianjur. “Hundreds, maybe even thousands of houses were destroyed.” The national civil protection confirmed so far 14 fatalities. There are also around 300 injured.
The US Earthquake Monitor (USGS) gave the magnitude of the quake as 5.6. The epicenter was therefore near Cianjur in the province of West Java. Several broadcasters showed images of buildings in Cianjur whose roofs had collapsed. Videos on social media showed collapsed buildings and people crying. Debris lay everywhere on the streets.
The tremors also shook high-rise buildings in the capital Jakarta, around 100 kilometers to the south. People ran outside in panic, but there were initially no reports of major damage or injuries from the capital.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency warned people in the hardest-hit region of aftershocks. They should remain outdoors for the time being, said agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati.
Because of Indonesia’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common in the Southeast Asian country. In January last year, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, killing more than 100 people. Thousands of people lost their homes.