Indonesia issues tsunami alert as multiple earthquake jolt West Java

APD NEWS

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By AP writer Maverick

**JAKARTA, Dec. 16 (APD) ** — Tsunami alert was issued by Indonesian authorities to respond multiple earthquakes that occurred in West Java province’s coastal regencies that killed 2 people and damaged over 100 houses in the affected areas.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued the tsunami warning after a 6.9 magnitude that followed after a stronger 7.3 earthquake in West Java province’s regency of Tasikmalaya at 23.47 p.m. Friday.

The warning was imposed in Java’s three provinces of West Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta and was called off two hours later.

Prior to the two strong earthquakes in Tasikmalaya, the BMKG reported a 4.5 magnitude earthquake that took place at around 23.04 p.m. in nearby regency of Sukabumi.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that the earthquake events had claimed 2 lives in West Java and Central Java provinces.

“Areas affected the most by the earthquakes were Pangandaran, Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, Banjar, Garut, Cilacap, Kebumen, Pekalongan, Banyumas, Brebes and Banjarnegara,” BNPB Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Saturday, naming the regencies in West and Central Java provinces hit the most by the disaster.

He added that the earthquakes left at least 7 injured, collapsed and damaged more than 100 houses in the two provinces.

Meanwhile, another earthquake measured 5.7 was reported to take place at 07.22 a.m. on Saturday in West Java’s regency of Garut.

Tremors from the earthquake were felt in capital city Jakarta that incited panic among people, prompting them to rush out from buildings.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)