Death Toll Due To West Sumatra Earthquake Increases To 7 People

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded an additional death toll from an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 in West Sumatra. As of 16.30 p.m. local time, the death toll was 7 people.

"The number of dead victims was identified as 3 in West Pasaman Regency and 4 in Pasaman Regency," said Acting Head of BNPB Disaster Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in his statement, Friday, February 25.

Then, the total injured people reached 85 people, with details of 10 people seriously injured and 50 minor injuries in West Pasaman, and 25 people in Pasaman.

The earthquake also had an impact on the evacuation of residents. Until now, as many as 5.000 residents evacuated in 35 points. The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported the distribution of evacuation points in Talamau, Pasaman and Kinali sub-districts.

"Officers in the field are still registering residents who have fled," said Abdul Muhari.

Joint officers from BPBD, National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), organizational personnel as well as volunteers and residents are still focusing on search, rescue, and evacuation as well as services to affected residents.

For information, an earthquake rocked West Sumatra at 08.39 a.m. local time. The Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) initially recorded an earthquake measuring 6.2 M. Then, the strength of the earthquake was updated to M 6.1. The epicenter parameter was recorded at kilometers northeast of West Pasaman, West Sumatra, with a depth of 10 kilometers.

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in the West Sumatra Province said the shock was felt strong for 3 to 5 seconds in West Pasaman Regency. In Limapuluh Kota Regency, residents felt a strong earthquake for 2 to 5 seconds.

Strong shaking was felt in a number of other areas, such as Agam Regency, Padang Pariaman, and Pariaman for 2 to 5 seconds. Meanwhile, Padang City reported that the shaking felt weak for 1 to 3 seconds.

After the M 6.1 earthquake, the Disaster Management Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) of BNPB received reports of two significant aftershocks with M 5.0 at 11.02 a.m. and an M 5.1 earthquake at 11.06 a.m.