Indonesia: Casualties and damage reported following magnitude-5.6 earthquake in western West Java Province Nov. 21 /update 1

Event

Authorities have reported multiple casualties and structural damage following a magnitude-5.6 earthquake that occurred in West Java Province at around 13:21 Nov. 21. The epicenter was about 18 km (11 miles) west of Ciranjang-hilir. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and relatively strong shaking was reported near the epicenter in Cianjur, Bogor, and Sukabumi regencies. Moderate-to-light shaking was also reported in parts of Greater Jakarta, Bekasi City, Bogor City, and Garut Regency.

As of late afternoon Nov. 21, authorities have reported at least 46 fatalities and hundreds more have been injured as a result of the earthquake. Hundreds of buildings have been damaged, with Cianjur Regency near the epicenter being the worst affected. Several landslides have also been reported in the vicinity of the epicenter. A number of high-rise buildings in Jakarta's Central Business District were evacuated during the earthquake. Moderate-to-light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. Officials have already reported at least 25 minor aftershocks. Officials are continuing damage assessments as of Nov. 21 to ascertain the full extent of the impact of the earthquake. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Vacate multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.