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Indonesia earthquake kills at least 162, leaves 700 injured

The magnitude 5.6 tremor shook the city of Cianjur, southeast of the capital Jakarta, and leaves significant damage in the area

A 5.6 magnitude quake hit Indonesia on Monday.

At least 162 people have been killed and 700 more injured after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the Indonesian city of Cianjur on the island of Java on Monday, said West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.

Hundreds of victims were being treated in hospitals. “Most have fractures after being trapped in the rubble of the buildings,” said Herman Suherman, head of the local administration of Cianjur (population 170,000) in statements to MetroTV news channel.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 46 miles (75 km) southeast of Jakarta. The Indonesian Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said there is no possibility of a tsunami. The shock was also felt in Jakarta but, for the moment, no casualties or significant damage were reported in the capital.

MetroTV footage showed some buildings in Cianjur being reduced almost completely to rubble as concerned residents stood outside.

Indonesia frequently experiences earthquakes as the country straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone where tectonic plates in the earth’s crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.

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