22 November,2022 09:21 AM IST | Jakarta | Agencies
Survivors treated outside a local hospital following the earthquake in Cianjur Monday. Pic/AP
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed more than 50 people and wounded hundreds in Indonesia's West Java province on Monday, with rescuers trying to reach survivors trapped under the rubble as aftershocks hit.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil confirmed 56 deaths from the quake, whose epicentre was the town of Cianjur, about 75 km (45 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta. The national disaster agency (BNPB), on Monday, told a news conference up to 700 people had been injured and more than 300 homes damaged or destroyed.
Electricity was down in the area and disrupting communications efforts, Herman Suherman, a government official from Cianjur, said, adding that people in Cugenang were unable to be evacuated because of a landslide blocking access. Footage from news channel Metro TV showed what appeared to be hundreds of victims being treated in one hospital parking lot and some buildings in Cianjur reduced almost entirely to rubble as worried residents huddled outside. Other TV channels showed victims hooked up to intravenous drips and being treated on the sidewalk.
Officials were still working to determine the full extent of the damage caused by Monday's quake, which struck on land in Cianjur at a depth of 10 km, according to the weather and geophysics agency (BMKG). Muchlis, who was in Cianjur when the quake hit, said he felt "a huge tremor" and the walls and ceiling of his office building were damaged. "I was very shocked. I worried there would be another quake," Muchlis told Metro TV, adding that people ran out of their houses, some fainting and vomiting in response.
ALSO READ
Indonesians mark 2 decades since tragic tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands
Zoo elephant swept away in river, dies
Indonesia shows interest in collaborating with India in defence tech sector
Filipina who won last-minute reprieve from Indonesian firing squad prepares to fly home
Filipino woman who was on death row in Indonesia will return home after almost 15 years in prison
56
No. of people killed in the earthquake
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever