Topline
The death toll from Monday’s earthquake in Indonesia rose to 268 as several more bodies, including many belonging to school children, were recovered from collapsed buildings on Tuesday, local authorities said, in what is the latest disaster to strike the country located in one of the most tectonically active regions in the world.
Police and search and rescue officers evacuate the bodies of landslide victims who were buried in … [+]
Key Facts
The updated death toll is a sharp rise from Monday’s number of 162, while 151 people are still missing, according to a notice on Instagram by the affected region’s disaster response authority.
More than 1000 people have been injured, the notice added.
The Indonesian island of Java was hit by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on Monday afternoon with the town of Cianjur—located 75 miles south of the national capital Jakarta—being hit the worst.
According to Reuters, many of the bodies being recovered are children who were killed when their school buildings collapsed as the quake struck the region during school hours.
The earthquake caused damage to several bridges and blocked roads, which has hindered rescuers from bringing in heavy machinery like excavators.
Crucial Quote
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Cianjur to survey the damage on Tuesday. In a statement on Twitter, he said: “I express my deep condolences…I have ordered all levels of the relevant government to work together to assist in handling the aftermath of the earthquake, from evacuating and rescuing victims, to repairing roads on site.” Widodo added that he deliberately traveled to the affected region by a land route “to ensure that access roads that were closed due to the earthquake have reopened.”
Big Number
Rp 50 million ($3,200). That is the amount of money Widodo pledged the government will provide to each resident whose homes were damaged by the earthquakes.
Key Background
Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are a frequent occurrence in Indonesia, which is located in one of the most active tectonic and volcanic regions of the world, known as the “Ring Of Fire.” Earlier this year, Sumatra—one of the five major islands that make up Indonesia—was hit by a significantly higher magnitude 6.1 quake, which resulted in major damage and at least 25 deaths. Last year, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Sulawesi resulting in more than 100 deaths. The region’s worst disaster in recent years took place in 2018 when Sulawesi was struck by a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake which was followed by a massive tsunami, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,300 people.
Further Reading
Many school children among 252 dead in Indonesian earthquake (Reuters)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/11/22/indonesia-earthquake-death-toll-jumps-to-268-as-many-remain-missing/