Indonesia: Authorities confirm at least 162 people dead and 700 injured after magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurs in western West Java Province Nov. 21 /update 2

Event

Government officials have confirmed that at least 162 people were killed and some 700 others injured in connection with a magnitude-5.6 earthquake that struck West Java Province at around 13:21 Nov. 21; the casualty count may rise over the coming hours. 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 occurred near the epicenter in Cianjur, Bogor, and Sukabumi regencies. Moderate-to-light shaking also struck parts of Greater Jakarta, Bekasi City, Bogor City, and Garut Regency.

Hundreds of buildings have been damaged, with Cianjur Regency near the epicenter being the worst affected. Officials have evacuated civilians from several high-rise buildings in Jakarta's Central Business District. Authorities have reported several landslides in the vicinity of the epicenter. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days; officials have already reported dozens of minor aftershocks. The government is continuing to conduct damage assessments to ascertain the full extent of the earthquake's impact. 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 the risk of landslides.