Magnitude 6.6 quake striking Banten damages 1,231 homes

Banten, January 15 (ANTARA) - A 6.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Banten Province on Friday, damaged 1,231 houses in three districts. Lebak, Pandeglang, and Serang were the three districts impacted by the earthquake. No casualties due to the earthquake were reported, Head of the Banten natural disaster mitigation office (BPBD) Nana Suryana remarked here on Saturday . The epicenter of the quake was located at 7.01 degrees southern latitude and 105.26 degrees eastern longitude, some 52 kilometers from southwest of Sumur Sub-district in Pandeglang District, and at a depth of 10 kilometers below sea level, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The tremors, however, could be felt by those in Jakarta and Bogor in West Java Province. Of the total 1,231 damaged houses, 226 incurred heavy damage, 290 suffered moderate damages, and 715 incurred minor damages. In Pandeglang District, 214 homes suffered heavy damage; 269 houses incurred moderate damage, and 617 suffered light damage. The affected houses were located in 123 villages in 28 sub-districts. In Lebak District, the quake caused heavy damage to 12 houses, moderate damage to 12 homes, and minor damage to 98 houses. These houses were located in 32 villages in 15 sub-districts. Meanwhile, in Serang District, nine homes in four villages located in three sub-districts incurred moderate damage. The earthquake victims, whose homes were damaged by the natural disaster, evacuated to their relatives' homes. "We have not set up refugee camps, as the people prefer to stay at their relatives' houses," Suryana remarked. The quite strong earthquake also damaged school buildings, public service offices, and places of worship. As many as 13 schools, 14 health centers, four religious facilities, three government offices, and a shop were damaged In Pandeglang. In Lebak, five schools, two public facilities, and a village administration office were damaged. Meanwhile, no public building was damaged in Serangy. "Alhamdulillah (Thank Allah), there were no fatalities, and only two Lebak residents were slightly injured," he noted. The Banten authorities have distributed relief aid to earthquake victims in Sumur Sub-district.