Two dead and seven injured in the 6,5 magnitude earthquake in Java

cna t2f1c733313234e3b8814e977d615f9b4 0 INTERNATIONAL, INDONESIA, EARTHQUAKE

A strong earthquake of 6,5 magnitude hit the island of Java, Indonesia, just before midnight on Friday (local time), with the authorities talking so far about two dead and damage to dozens of buildings.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at a depth of 92 kilometers, 52 kilometers south of the city of Tasikmalaya.

Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency has issued tsunami warnings — seismic waves — in southern Java, urging authorities to evacuate some coastal areas. However, no tsunami alert was issued.

The quake and aftershocks have caused panic among residents in central and western Java.

At least two people have been killed, seven injured and more than 100 buildings damaged, including a hospital in central Java, according to a spokesman for Indonesia's disaster management service.

About 70 patients had to be removed from the hospital and transported to tents, the spokesman said.

The same spokesman posted on his account on the social networking site Twitter the photos of people looking for survivors in buildings that collapsed.

The quake shook buildings for several seconds in the capital, Jakarta.

The Indonesia Meteorological and Geodynamic Institute said a magnitude 5,7 earthquake struck west Java earlier on Saturday, saying it did not consider a tsunami alert.

Java, Indonesia's most populous island, is home to more than half of the country's 250 million people.

 

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