Durian. At least 34 people died and more than 630 are injured after magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Majene, Indonesia’s West Sulawesi province on Jan.15, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.
The center of the quake was six kilometers northeast Majene, capital of West Sulawesi, in 10 km depth.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the earthquake did not trigger a tsunami.
The tremor has caused around 15,000 people to flee their homes for safety, several buildings including the governor office and Maleo hotel are severely damaged. Electricity supplies were also cut off, BNPB said.
From 34 casualties, 26 were from Mamuju and eight other were from Majene.
Meanwhile, the regional disaster mitigation office (BPBD) said that there were at landslides happened at least at three points along the road from Majene to Mamuju, cutting the transportation access.
It also damaged 62 houses, 1 hospital and 1 military base.
Several hours earlier, magnitude 5.9 earthquake has shaked the same area, damaging several houses.
Responding to this condition, BPBD conducted emergency handling, such as handling injured victims, evacuation, data collection and the establishment of evacuation posts.
Current urgent needs are in the form of basic necessities, blankets and mats, family tents, medical services and tarpaulin.
“The quake made local residents panic and fled their house. The community was still outside the house anticipating aftershocks,” BNPN said.
Disaster handling is ongoing.
