Death toll jumps to 268 from earthquake in Java, Indonesia - ABC News

JAKARTA and LONDON -- A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Java land successful Indonesia connected Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At slightest 268 radical person died arsenic of astir 5:30 p.m. section time, according to the caput of Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency who was speaking astatine a property league connected Tuesday.

Medical workers dainty victims extracurricular the territory infirmary aft earthquake deed successful Cianjur, West Java province, Indonesia, November 21, 2022.

Antara Foto via Reuters

So far, a full of 1,083 radical person been injured with 151 radical inactive missing oregon unaccounted for, the authoritative said successful Tuesday's property conference. More than 58,000 radical person been displaced and numbers could inactive perchance rise.

A collapsed schoolhouse gathering pursuing an earthquake successful Cianjur, West Java province, Indonesia, Nov. 21, 2022.

Stringer/Reuters

Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said connected Twitter that it had besides measured the quake astatine a magnitude of 5.6. Preliminary information from the USGS had antecedently placed the quake astatine a magnitude of 5.4.

Workers inspect a store damaged during an earthquake successful Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, Nov. 21, 2022.

Firman Taqur/AP

The quake struck astatine a extent of astir 10 km, with an epicenter astir 18 km southwest of Ciranjang-hilir, Indonesia, USGS said.

Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, went to the tract of the quake and expressed his condolences.

"On behalf of myself, connected behalf of the government, I would similar to explicit my heavy condolences for the earthquake successful Cianjur Regency, West Java Province," Widodo said successful his remarks. "And astir importantly, I americium blessed that the roadworthy entree that was buried yesterday until this greeting has been capable to beryllium opened, convey God, and this volition beryllium continued with velocity successful handling -- particularly [the] rescue [and] evacuation for those who are inactive buried."

Head of the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto said that officials "can't accidental yet however galore of the 268 [deaths] are children."

"[The earthquake] coincided with galore children who were reciting the Quran," helium said. "So so immoderate of those who person been identified are children. Whether the percent of 268 [deaths] is simply a batch of children, time (Wednesday) astatine 5 p.m. [local time] we volition answer."

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