A 5.6 earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java killed at least 46 people, according to a media report. As the television station MetroTV reports, citing local authorities, more than 300 people were injured.
The quake struck Monday afternoon (local time) near the capital Jakarta. The epicenter was a few kilometers southwest of the city of Cianjur. This is also where the greatest damage was caused.
High-rise buildings swayed in Jakarta
Many houses were also badly damaged. Videos on social media show collapsed buildings and people crying. The injured are treated by emergency services. There is rubble everywhere in the street. The exact extent of the damage is still unclear.
The earthquake was also clearly felt in the metropolis of Jakarta itself. High-rise buildings swayed, but no major damage was initially reported in the city. According to the US Earthquake Monitor (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of ten kilometers. There was no tsunami warning.
The island nation of Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on Earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common there. In February, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on the island of Sumatra killed nearly 20 people. More than 400 were injured. (SDA/no)