Death toll from Indonesia's earthquake rises to 252 - local government
The death toll from an earthquake that hit Indonesia's Cianjur town in western Java has risen to 252, the local government said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
It also said 31 people are still missing and 377 were injured, while the number of people displaced has reached 7,060.
Over 700 people were also injured in the magnitute 5.6 earthquake, a statement by the agency quoted West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as saying.
The strong earthquake hit the Cianjur regency of West Java at 1.21 p.m. (0621GMT.)
It was felt in the capital Jakarta and other regions, including Rancaekek, South Tangerang and Depok, according to the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency.
Earlier, officials at the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure said the death toll was likely to rise.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday to express "deep sorrow" over the tremble.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives as well as to the friendly and brotherly people and the Government of Indonesia, and wish speedy recovery to the injured," the ministry said.
Greek Foreign Ministry sends condolences after Indonesian earthquake
The Greek Foreign Ministry said it is “devastated by the tragic loss of lives and damage caused by the earthquake that hit West Java in Indonesia” on Monday.
“Our thoughts go out to the missing, the injured and to the rescue crews. We extend sincere condolences to the grieving families and sympathies to the people and the Government of Indonesia,” a tweet from the ministry said.
The country of more than 270 million people is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis because of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
In February, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake killed at least 25 people and injured more than 460 in West Sumatra province. In January 2021, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake killed more than 100 people and injured nearly 6,500 in West Sulawesi province.
A powerful Indian Ocean quake and tsunami in 2004 killed nearly 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia.
AA-AMNA-kathimerini
