Death Toll In Indonesian 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.