Earthquake in Indonesia: Death toll rises to 268, rescue operations still underway

International Desk: The death toll in the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Java Island in Indonesia has increased to 268 people. About a thousand people were injured. 151 people are still missing. The country's President Joko Widodo visited a remote area affected by the earthquake.

For two days, the country's fire service, voluntary organizations and members of the law enforcement force are working to rescue the people buried in the rubble. Officials of the country said that most of the victims were children.

Major buildings were damaged due to the earthquake. Roads have collapsed. The rescue workers have to gain momentum to carry out rescue work at night in power cut areas.

Aprizal Mulaidi was inside the school at the time of the earthquake and was trapped when the classroom collapsed. The 14-year-old boy said his legs got stuck and his friend Zulfikar helped him out. But Zulfikar also died later due to compression.

According to Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), 22,000 houses were damaged by this earthquake. 58,000 people have been taken to shelters from the earthquake affected area.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Monday's (November 21) earthquake had its epicenter 18 km from the Xianju area and centered at a depth of 10 km below the surface.

Aprizal Mulaidi also said that people were trapped due to the collapse of the roof and walls of the building. Everything happens in the blink of an eye.

BNPB member Henry Alfiandi said children were among the casualties. They were at school when the earthquake hit around 1pm.

Meanwhile, hospitals in Cianjur continue to be crowded with relatives of the injured. On the other hand, there is a shortage of food and water in the shelters.

Indonesia is located on an active seismic zone in the Pacific Ocean. This region is called the Ring of Fire. The country has been hit by severe earthquakes many times before. In 2018, more than 2,000 people were killed by the earthquake on the island of Sulawesi.

 

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