The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has dispatched teams to probe likely damages to buildings in Jakarta following the 6.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled the capital and surrounding areas on Friday afternoon.
Jakarta BPBD acting head Sabdo Kurnianto informed that the agency had assigned the task to the local BPBD at Jakarta’s five regions to probe for likely damages and conduct post-earthquake mitigation measures.
“The local BPBD staff at Jakarta’s five regions have conducted a quick assessment (of the conditions) in their region. We have also readied the emergency contact number 112 to receive public information and respond to public inquiry,” Kurnianto told ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.
The agency has also coordinated with officers from the military, police, and relevant institutions to assist in the probe, he remarked.
The acting head informed that the Jakarta BPBD strives to educate people about earthquake mitigation measures through the agency’s social media channels.
In the case of an earthquake, residents must promptly exit indoor spaces or protect themselves by hiding below a strong table and maintain distance from objects that easily fall, he emphasized.
Residents must also evacuate only by stairs or emergency routes and refrain from using elevators during the quake, the acting head stressed.
“If residents are outdoors, they must stay away from damaged buildings and ensure their dwelling’s condition is safe after the quake,” Kurnianto remarked.
According to information published by the national Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck at 4:05 p.m. local time (UTC +7) and was centered some 52 kilometers southwest of Sumur in Banten Province, west of Jakarta.
A 5.7-magnitude aftershock occurred at 4:49 p.m. local time and was centered 54 kilometers southwest of Sumur in Banten.
The agency reported that the earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.
Source: Antara News