At least 46 killed in Indonesia as 5.6 magnitude quake hits West Java

JAKARTA – At least 46 people were killed and hundreds others injured after a shallow magnitude 5.6 earthquake that rattled West Java on Monday left scores of buildings damaged and sent tremors as far as Jakarta, Indonesian officials say.

The quake in Cianjur regency, in West Java, struck at 1.21pm local time (2.21pm Singapore time). Strong tremors that lasted 10 to 15 seconds caused people to panic and flee their homes.

Cianjur Regent Herman Suherman said 46 had died following the disaster.

We are continuing to update figures and the number of victims are expected to rise, said Indonesias Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto told the media earlier.

Footage seen by The Straits Times showed people and children panicking and crying, and some bleeding from head injuries. Several houses and buildings had also collapsed.

The shaking of several seconds was also felt in the surrounding West Java regencies including Sukabumi, Bogor and Bandung, and in the capital Jakarta about 100km north. Some Jakarta residents told ST they felt the buildings shake, windows rattle and furniture move.

Residents in a number of these areas (such as Jakarta) felt earthquake shocks of weak to strong intensity, BNPB said.

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