Update On The Jember Earthquake, Dozens Of Residents' Houses Experience Light To Moderate Damage

Houses were damaged by an earthquake in Jember Regency on Thursday (16/12/2021) morning. (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Jember)

JEMBER - Dozens of houses in several sub-districts of Jember Regency, East Java were reported to have been damaged by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on Thursday, December 16 at 06.01 a.m. local time.

The results of the Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) analysis show that the earthquake has an updated parameter of magnitude 5.0 with the epicenter at coordinates 8.55 degrees South Latitude; 113.48 degrees east longitude, or to be precise, located in the sea at a distance of 43 km southwest of Jember City at a depth of 26 kilometers.

"Some houses were reported to have suffered light to moderate damage in several sub-districts, but we are continuing to collect data," said Jember Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Secretary Heru Widagdo when contacted by telephone in Jember.

The data on residents' houses that were damaged came from reports from residents and volunteers who went to the location affected by the 5.1 magnitude earthquake.

"The earthquake caused dozens of houses to be lightly to moderately damaged in several sub-districts, namely Ambulu, Tempurejo, Silo, Puger, and Wuluhan sub-districts," he said.

Based on data from the Jember BPBD on Thursday at 08.30 a.m., it was recorded that damage due to the earthquake in Ambulu District, namely one house in Ambulu Village, two houses in Sumberejo Village, one house in Andongsari Village and Sabrang Village, and one Islamic boarding school were also damaged.

In Tempurejo Sub-district, one house was damaged in Wonosari Village, one house in Pondokrejo Village, and one house in Curahnongko Village, while in Silo Sub-district one house was damaged in Sidomulyo Village.

In Puger District, one house was moderately damaged in Jambearum Village and in Wuluhan District, one house was also recorded as damaged in Dukuh Dempok Village.

"A total of 12 houses were temporarily damaged due to the earthquake, with details of eight houses being lightly damaged and four houses being moderately damaged, and one Islamic boarding school being slightly damaged," he said.

Heru said the data might change because data collection is still being carried out by Jember BPBD volunteers who have gone to a number of locations.

"We urge residents to remain calm and not be influenced by issues that cannot be justified, because we will convey the correct information from the BMKG," he said.

He appealed to the public to avoid buildings that were cracked or damaged by the earthquake, and to check and ensure that their residential buildings were earthquake-resistant or that there was no damage caused by earthquake vibrations that would endanger the stability of the building before returning to their homes.