Indonesia earthquake: 268 dead after 5.6 magnitude quake strikes Java island

JAKARTA, Indonesia — At least 268 people have died after a powerful 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Monday afternoon, according to multiple reports.

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According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake, which occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. local time, was centered about 11 miles west-southwest of Ciranjang-hilir, West Java. It had a depth of about 6.2 miles.

Update 8:30 a.m. EST Nov. 22: The death toll from Monday’s earthquake in Indonesia rose to 268 on Tuesday as officials continued to search for survivors, The Associated Press reported.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency head Suharyanto, who uses one name, told the AP that more than 1,080 people were injured. At least 151 people remained missing on Tuesday.

Rescuers told BBC News that many children were among those killed by Monday’s tremblor.

“Most the casualties are children because at 1 p.m., they were still at school,” Henri Alfiandi, a representative of the National Search and Rescue Agency, told BBC.

The earthquake damaged 22,000 houses, according to BBC.

– Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Update 12:45 p.m. EST Nov. 21: West Java Gov. Ridwan Kamil said in a post on social media that the death toll from Monday’s earthquake rose to at least 162 in the hours following the quake.

The tremor left more than 325 people injured and heavily damaged 2,345 homes, he said. Officials were working to clear roads and prepare shelter for thousands of expected refugees.

“Asking for prayers please,” Kamil said in a Facebook post.

– Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Original report: Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said the quake did not pose a tsunami risk, Reuters reported. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center also did not issue a tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat, according to the agency’s website.

Indonesian officials said at least 46 people died and 700 others were hurt in the earthquake, which damaged a hospital, an Islamic boarding school and dozens of other buildings, the Associated Press reported.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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