Agus Wibowo, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), mentioned that five people have died during the 6.9 magnitude quake which occurred in Banten on Friday.
The number has increased from two on Saturday. He also confirms that the dead victims were residents of Pandeglang and Lebak District in Banten Province, and Sukabumi District in West Java Province, he said in a press statement on Saturday.
The dead victims were identified as Sa’in (40), Rasinah (48), Salam (95), Ajay (58), and Ruyani (35). Aside from claiminh five lives, the quake had also damaged 178 buildings, including homes, schools, and mosques.
According to Kusmayadi, acting head of the Banten Disaster Mitigation Agency, 176 buildings experienced slight damages while the other two were moderately damaged. Head of the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysics agency (BMKG) Rahmat Triyono also urges the public to ignore rumours of an upcoming 9 magnitude earthquake. “The rumors are baseless because no one is able to predict the magnitude of an earthquake, and when and where it will occur,” he added.
Source: Tempo
Image: News Australia