The damaged caused to houses by the earthquake Photo BNPB Indonesia
Indonesia – West Java, Indonesia, has been left devastated after a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the province in November. Three hundred and twenty people have been killed and at least 585 are seriously injured, while 40 people are reported missing.
Around 62,000 homes have been damaged and more than 73,000 people have been displaced. The damage is far greater than what is expected from a 5.6 magnitude earthquake. Indonesia was preciously struck by two stronger 6.2 magnitude earthquakes, one this year and another last year, which resulted in 25 and 100 deaths. The huge amount of devastation is the result of the epicentre being just 10 kilometres from the surface.
SMread: Rivonia Circle – Bringing citizens together to fix the nation
The devastation and impact of the earthquake
According to authorities the soft and loose soil on the area’s hills also led to more destruction. Landslides buried entire villages near the town of Cianjur. According to Abdul Aleem Ghamza, Head of Fund Development of Islamic Relief South Africa, the cost of life and damages is incalculable.
“We have witnessed the large-scale impact and effects of the earthquake in Indonesia. The exact devastation and account is not complete. As it goes along [the rebuild] things will be made more apparent … Can you imagine going through an earthquake, having lost everything, seeing your family members disappear, losing their lives and you feel this after shock? Imagine the trepidation that they face and imagine the anxiety that goes through these people’s minds. More than 300 people have lost their lives. Thousands of children have been impacted by this. There are still people that are missing. Nothing will prepare us for what they must have felt like to be on the ground when this earthquake and tremors shook Indonesia.”
Islamic Relief responding to the disaster
Damaged roads and the vast size of the affected area has made it difficult to locate and help those in need. Islamic Relief is working with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency to provide help and support to areas that were badly hit.
“We have provided, and we will continue to provide plastic shelter, hygiene kits, food items and other essential non-food items that are required for those who are suffering and we are scaling up our response in the coming days. We have committed and we have placed an amount of over R30 million and we would like the community to be part of that.”
The National Search and Rescue Agency confirmed that many of the dead were young people and mothers. The earthquake struck at 1pm while children were still at school. Around 80 schools have been damaged. Rescuers remain hopeful that they will be able to save more survivors although time is running out. Many of those who were saved have been treated outside of hospitals in tents due to the fear of aftershocks.
Islamic Relief has called on all to donate generously in an effort to help as many people as they can. Rescue efforts are still ongoing but with many roads destroyed, some places are almost impossible to reach. Emergency management command has been passed from the federal agency on to the Regional Government of Cianjur Regency.
