162 Dead in Indonesia Earthquake Today; At Least 326 Others Injured After Being 'Crushed in Ruins'

At least 162 people have died and hundreds have been injured as a result of an earthquake in Java, the largest island in Indonesia, according to regional governor Ridwan Kamil.

According to data from the US Geological Survey, the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked Cianjur town in West Java occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles). Numerous patients received outside care while hundreds were brought to hospitals.

Massive Indonesia Earthquake

According BBC News, the epicenter of the earthquake is a heavily populated, landslide-prone area where many poorly constructed homes have been turned to rubble. At least 62 persons have died, according to earlier estimates from Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Speaking to local media, Kamil stated that the earthquake had harmed 326 individuals, most of them "suffered fractures from being crushed in debris." He did, however, issue a warning that some locals were still "stuck in isolated locations" and stated that authorities were "under the premise that the number of injured and fatalities will climb over time."

The governor of West Java said that the tragedy had forced more than 13,000 people to flee their homes, while the earthquake had reportedly destroyed more than 2,200 dwellings.

The most recent statistics were released after Herman Suherman, a government official, said previously that at least 300 injuries had occurred at a single hospital. In remarks that suggest the number of deaths and injuries from the earthquake might increase, he had mentioned that there were four hospitals in the region.

The official said that the area's lack of electricity was interfering with communications operations. He said that a landslide prevented officials from conducting evacuations in the Cugenang region. The greater Jakarta area felt the tremor very intensely. Several buildings in the nation's capital trembled while others required evacuation. earby West Java cities including Sukabumi, Bogor, and Bandung also experienced several seconds of shaking.

Footage from the neighborhood Metro TV showed worried citizens swarming outside as well as several Cianjur buildings smashed to rubble. In photos, people receiving medical attention on sidewalks can be seen with intravenous drips linked up to them, as per The Independent.

Information on fatalities and property damage was still being gathered. Due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' Indonesia, which has a population of 270 million, is vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. However, earthquakes are not frequently felt in Jakarta.

Rescuers Scramble to Search Trapped Earthquake Victims

Overnight, rescuers and others scrambled to locate anyone trapped in the wreckage. Herman Suherman, a government official in Cianjur, said that the hospital's physical damage and loss of electricity hindered rescue operations.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Monday's earthquake occurred at a depth of just six miles, which is particularly alarming because it was so shallow. Because the seismic waves have to travel a shorter distance to the surface and lose less energy along the way, shallow earthquakes can frequently be more devastating than deeper ones.

In search of signs of life, earthquake survivors dug long into the night, often using only their hands. Rescuers were shown on television footage being unable to reach victims because they lacked the equipment needed to excavate and clear the rubble.

Outside the main hospital, in parking lots, and in open areas, emergency personnel were providing care to the injured who were being transported on stretchers. Many were given oxygen masks and were receiving intravenous care, including youngsters.

Per NY Times, the authorities placed tents outside the damaged hospital to provide refuge and care for the injured. Many people arrived on motorbikes since some roads were blocked by landslides, making it difficult for ambulances and other vehicles to get through.