September 19, 2024
BANDUNG – A magnitude-5 earthquake that occurred in West Java on Wednesday morning has injured at least 20 people and damaged a number of houses and public facilities in Bandung and Garut.
West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) official Hadi Rahmat said the quake, which struck at 9.41 a.m., impacted at least three villages in Bandung regency and five in Garut regency.
In Bandung regency, several victims were trapped under rubble. “One person sustained minor injuries, while five with serious injuries were referred to the hospitals and 14 suffered moderate injuries,” Hadi said in a text message on Wednesday.
The official said the number of victims would be updated.
According to a preliminary assessment report, as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, damage in Bandung regency included eight houses, two healthcare facilities, one place of worship and one educational facility. In Garut regency, damage included seven houses and one educational facility.
“We are still conducting assessments in the field,” Hadi said.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake’s epicenter was inland, about 24 kilometers southeast of Bandung regency, with a magnitude of 5. The quake’s depth was about 10 kilometers. Meanwhile, data from the German GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) indicated a magnitude-5.3 quake with a depth of 10 kilometers.
BMKG official M. Wafid said in a press release that based on data from the BMKG and GFZ, the earthquake was caused by active fault activity.
The agency reported the earthquake was felt at intensity III-IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) in Majalaya, Bandung regency; intensity III MMI in Banjaran and intensity II-III MMI in Lembang, Parompong, West Bandung regency, Baleendah and Garut.
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) estimates the shaking intensity from an earthquake at a specific location by considering its effects on people, objects and buildings. Intensity I-II is the lightest, often not felt by people. Intensity III can be felt indoors but typically causes no damage. Intensity IV-V is noticeable to many, with objects moving, but buildings generally remaining undamaged. At intensity VII and above, buildings may begin to crack or collapse.
“The majority of affected residential areas are located in regions of medium earthquake hazard zones,” Wafid explained.
BMKG recommends that residents of damaged homes evacuate to safer areas.
Due to the earthquake, Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) canceled 14 train trips between Halim Station in Jakarta and Tegalluar Station in West Java.
KCIC spokesperson Eva Chairunisa said the cancellations were related to the earthquake’s eight aftershocks of varying magnitudes. “The cancellations were made to ensure the safety and security of all high-speed train journeys,” Chairunisa said.
In line with safety protocols, Chairunisa added that KCIC teams immediately inspected the tracks using maintenance trains, a process that takes up to four hours. They aimed to ensure no external factors, such as landslides had affected the track.
The inspections covered all 144 kilometers of track, much of which passes through hilly areas, including 82 km of bridges, 13 tunnels spanning 17 km and 42 km of above-ground tracks.
Visual and sensor data from 1,399 CCTV cameras along the tracks showed no damage to the Jakarta-Bandung HSR infrastructure, she said. Passengers with tickets for the canceled trips are eligible for a full refund, she added.