At least 162 people have been killed, and hundreds injured by an earthquake on Indonesia’s main island of Java, regional governor Ridwan Kamil said on Monday.
According to data from the US Geological Survey, Cianjur town in West Java was hit by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake at a 10 km depth.
Earlier, the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) revealed that at least 62 people had died. However, the number was revised higher, showing that there were over 160 victims.
Speaking to local media, Mr. Kamil said a further 326 people had been injured in the quake, most suffering fractures when crushed by the rubble.
The earthquake occurred in a densely populated area that is prone to landslides. Many poorly built houses were reduced to rubble, pictures from the scene showed.
Dozens of people were rushed to a local hospital, but it was overwhelmed. Many injured were treated outside the facility.
It was also reported that rescuers had to work late into the night to save those who might still be trapped under the collapsed buildings.
Mr. Kamil warned that officials believed the number of injuries and deaths would rise as many residents remained trapped in isolated locations.
More than 13,000 people were displaced by the disaster, the West Java governor added. In addition, the BNPB revealed that more than 2,200 houses had been damaged by the quake.
The head of administration in Cianjur town echoed Mr. Kamil’s comments, saying that most of those injured had suffered broken bones when they were trapped under the rubble of the buildings.
Also, the AFP news agency reported early Monday that many families in the villages had not yet been evacuated, and ambulances were still transporting the wounded to the hospital.
The West Java governor also revealed that many of the injured had been treated in a parking lot at a hospital that had no power for several hours due to the quake.
Through a message posted on Twitter, Mr. Kamil warned residents that it could take up to three days before power is fully restored to the area.
Indonesia, located in an area in the Pacific known as a “ring of fire” due to tectonic activity, has already experienced deadly earthquakes in the past. In 2018, the Sulawesi earthquake left more than 200 dead.
