A 6.9 earthquake hits Java: two dead and seven injured
The epicentre was at a depth of six kilometres in Tasikmalaya (West Java). The quake was felt in Jakarta as well. More than 70 buildings were badly damaged. The dead were killed by collapsing walls. Churches also suffered damages.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - A 6.9 earthquake rocked the southern part of the island of Java last night.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced that the tremor killed at least two people, injuring seven others. Scores of homes and public buildings were damaged.
The epicentre of the quake was in Tasikmalaya (West Java), at a depth of six kilometres, BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo said in a statement.
Among the cities badly affected by the quake are Pangandaran, Ciamis, Banjar, Garut, Cilacap, Kebumen, Pekalongan, Banyumas, Brebes and Banjarnegara.
In a statement, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the government is monitoring the situation.
The quake was felt throughout Java, including the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and was followed by a series of aftershocks.
A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the tremor, but it was soon cancelled and people returned to their homes, the BNPB stated.
The authorities report that some 59 buildings in West Java were badly damaged with another ten suffering light damages. In Central Java 16 homes were declared unsafe.
The two victims were identified as Dede Lutfi, 62, a resident of Ciamis (West Java), and Aminah, 80, of Pekalongan (Central Java). They were killed by the collapse of the walls of their home.
In Cilacap, an institute owned by local oblate priests suffered light damage. Something similar happened to the Catholic church in Sidareja, where the ceiling collapsed. No victims were reported in these two different incidents.
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