Indonesian Provincial Government Reports 252 Earthquake Deaths, 377 Injuries

On the 21st (local time), rescue workers are escorting citizens injured by the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java Island, Indonesia. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] The death toll from the earthquake in West Java Province, Indonesia, continues to rise. Indonesian authorities are conducting search operations to rescue citizens trapped under the debris.

According to major foreign media on the 22nd, the West Java provincial government announced via social networking services (SNS) that the earthquake caused 252 deaths, 377 injuries, and over 7,000 displaced people. On the previous day, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Cianjur, West Java Province, causing school buildings to collapse and houses to be damaged. A landslide triggered by the quake buried an entire village.

The casualty figures released on this day are over 100 more than previously known. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) reports that 103 people have died, 31 are missing, and more than 300 have sustained serious injuries due to the earthquake. Ridwan Kamil, governor of West Java Province, explained, "Many people died after being trapped under building debris or landslides," adding, "Many students were among the victims as school buildings collapsed."

The shallow focal depth is cited as a reason for the higher-than-expected casualties. The epicenter of this earthquake was at a depth of 10 km, which is relatively close to the surface. Moreover, most buildings in Indonesia are not designed with earthquake-resistant structures, making them prone to collapse. The landslide was also caused by weakened mountain slopes due to the rainy season.

The main concern is the missing persons trapped under the collapsed building debris. Indonesian authorities are deploying heavy equipment such as excavators to find the victims, but the wide affected area and rugged terrain are hindering rescue efforts. Roads and bridges were damaged by the earthquake, and in some areas, infrastructure such as power and communication networks has been destroyed, making rescue operations very difficult.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who visited the site on the day, instructed, "Make rescuing people trapped in the debris the top priority." He also promised urgent government support for the victims.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.