Several school children among 268 killed in Indonesia quake, search ops continue for missing

The death toll from an earthquake in Indonesia’s main island of Java jumped to 268, news agency Reuters reported.

The search and rescue operation for the survivors continued as 151 people still remain missing, officials said on Tuesday. Many of the victims were children who had been at school at the time the quake hit.

An earthquake of 5.6 magnitude struck Indonesia’s most populous province on Monday afternoon, causing significant damage to the town of Cianjur and burying at least one village under a landslide.

Here are the top developments of the story
The death toll in Indonesia earthquake jumped from 162 to 268 on Tuesday, Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency said. At least 151 people still remain missing and more than 1,000 people have been injured in the mishap, which left behind a huge trail of destruction. Damaged roads and the vast size of the affected area are making it difficult to locate and help victims.

According to Disaster agency Suharyanto, the massive earthquake rendered 58,000 people homeless and at least 22,000 houses were damaged. Henri Alfiandi, head of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), told news agency Reuters that landslides and rough terrain obstructed rescue efforts.

The epicentre of the shallow 5.6 earthquake was near the town of Cianjur where most of the victims were killed. Many of those killed were children, according to the head of Indonesia’s national rescue agency Basarnas, reported news agency AFP.

Head of the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto said, “The earthquake coincided with many children who were reciting the Quran,” he said. “So indeed some of those who have been identified are children. Whether the percentage of 268 (deaths) is a lot of children, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5 pm (local time) we will answer.” (sic)

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that the government would give compensation to victims and their families. “On behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, I would like to express my deep condolences for the earthquake in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province,” Widodo said in his remarks.

On Tuesday, the President visited the affected area and instructed disaster and rescue agencies to ‘mobilise their personnel’ to save people trapped under the rubble. “My instruction is to prioritise evacuating victims that are still trapped under rubble,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives and damage to property from the earthquake that jolted the Indonesian island of Java.

“Saddened by the loss of lives and damage to property from the earthquake in Indonesia. Deepest condolences to the victims and their families. Wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands with Indonesia in this hour of grief,” PM Modi tweeted.

Cugenang remains one of the worst-hit areas and disaster officials said they would focus their efforts here. National police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told Reuters more than 1,000 police had been deployed to assist in the recovery. “At least six of my relatives are still unaccounted for, three adults and three children,” said Zainuddin, a resident of Cugenang, told Reuters.