Magnitude 6.0 quake sparks panic in Indonesia; 6 injured | Inquirer News

Magnitude 6.0 quake sparks panic in Indonesia; 6 injured

/ 07:26 PM January 23, 2018

indonesia quake earthquake

Published: 5:52 p.m., Jan. 23, 2018 | 7:26 p.m., Jan. 23, 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A strong earthquake rattled Indonesia Tuesday, sparking panic, damaging scores of homes and leaving at least half a dozen students seriously injured.

Article continues after this advertisement

Office workers in the capital Jakarta rushed outside as highrises began swaying, while some riders were thrown off their motorbikes by the force of the 6.0 magnitude rumble.

FEATURED STORIES

There were no reports of fatalities, but the government said six students were seriously hurt after the roof collapsed at their high school at Cianjur on Java island near the epicentre of the quake. Two other students sustained minor injuries.

“I was sitting when the building suddenly started shaking,” said Jakarta department store worker Suji, 35, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I ran outside the building. It was quite strong and I was afraid.”

Article continues after this advertisement

The United States Geological Survey said the 6.0 magnitude quake struck at a depth of 43 kilometers (27 miles).

Article continues after this advertisement

There was no warning of any tsunami.

“So far we have counted at least 115 homes” that have been damaged, Abu Salim, a spokesman for volunteer disaster relief group Tagana, told AFP.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The damage ranges from minor…to serious” cases, including partially collapsed walls.

The epicenter was off the coast, about 130 kilometers southwest of Jakarta, a huge city of more than 10 million people.

“The epicentre is in an area prone to quakes. More aftershocks are very likely,” Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati told Metro TV.

“I’m calling on people to be prepared, especially if you are in buildings with a weak structure,” he added.

The tremor came as US Defense Secretary James Mattis was in Jakarta for an official visit.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

At least three people were killed following a 6.5-magnitude earthquake just outside the coastal town of Cipatujah on Java island in mid-December.

The tremor was felt across the densely populated island, causing damage to hundreds of houses and other buildings.

An earthquake struck Indonesia’s western province of Aceh in December 2016, killing more than 100 people, injuring many more and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Aceh was one of the areas worst hit by the devastating 2004 tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.

The wall of waves killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

TAGS: Earthquake, Indonesia, Jakarta, Quake

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.