President Jokowi monitors quake aftermath

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has monitored the handling of the impact of a 6.9-magnitude quake, which hit southern parts of West and Central Java, including Yogyakarta and East Java, on Friday night.

"I have monitored the handling of the quake in the field. Again, I call on the people to remain alert with regard to quakes, especially the one that happens in the middle of the sea because of a possible tsunami that it may cause," he stated, after attending an Islamic youth gathering here, on Saturday.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has said that at least two people have died in the quake.

Dede Lutfi (62), a villager of Gunungsahari, Ciamis, West Java, and Aminah (80), a villager of Sugihwaras, Pekalongan, Central Java, died after a brick wall collapsed due to the quake.

"I have received reports from Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) as well as BNPB regarding last night`s quake that has jolted Banten, West Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, as well as Central Java," Jokowi stated.

He noted that the people had been smart enough to deal with the quake. "I am very glad to know that people have responded to the tsunami warning immediately after they heard it and evacuated themselves, led by our officials, through alarms. I think it is very good, and I thank God that there has not been a problem," he remarked.

"I heard three people have died and dozens of houses have been damaged, but I think people should not be too worried. I think the incident last night has shown that alarms and self-driven evacuation are indeed good developments in view of our country, which is surrounded by quake-prone areas," he revealed.

BNPB noted that seven people had been injured. About 43 houses had been destroyed, 65 others have been moderately damaged, and 10 slightly damaged, in addition to some public buildings that have also been damaged.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho explained that the districts that had been affected by the quake and suffered damages include Pangandaran, Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, Banjar, Garut, Cilacap, Kebumen, Pekalongan, Banyumas, Brebes, and Banjarnegara.

The epicenter of the quake was 42 kilometers southwest of Kawalu, West Java, at a depth of 107 kilometers. The quake had the potential to cause a tsunami in West and Central Java and Yogyakarta, but the tsunami warning was lifted at 2 a.m.

According to BMKG, three aftershocks were recorded until 2.14 a.m. at a magnitude of 3.2, 3.4, and 3.2 on the Richter Scale

Source: ANTARA