Death toll from Indonesia earthquake rises to 162

At least 162 people have died and hundreds of other persons sustained injuries after an earthquake struck Java, one of the largest islands in Indonesia.

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake with a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey, struck the island in the early hours of Monday.

The disaster left at least 700 people injured, while several houses and properties were destroyed in the wreckage, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (NDMA), an Indian government agency, said.

The NDMA had earlier put the death toll at 46, but Ridwan Kamil, regional governor, later confirmed that the number had risen to 162, while scores of people were taken to the hospital, with many treated outside.

Herman Suherman, the head of administration in Cianjur town, said most injuries were bone fractures sustained from people being trapped by debris.

The fatality figures are likely to increase as “a lot of people” are still trapped under the rubble, while search-and-rescue efforts continue.

BUILDINGS ‘SWAY’ IN JAKARTA

According to Aljazeera, several tremors were also reported in Jakarta, the country’s capital, forcing the evacuation of many high rises in the city.

In Jakarta to the north, there were reports of high-rise buildings swaying as a result of the tremors felt.

Earthquakes occur frequently across Indonesia because of its geographical location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates meet, but it is uncommon for them to be felt in the capital.