329 Died, 11 Victims of the Cianjur Earthquake Are Still Missing

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Cianjur Regent Herman Suherman said the death toll from the M5.6 earthquake in Cianjur Regency, West Java increased to 329 people. He said that the SAR team found another casualty on 1 December.

"One person who died was found in the Cicadas area, Cijedil Village. Therefore, the number of dead people is 329 people," he said in a virtual press conference on Thursday (1/12).

Meanwhile, 11 people are still missing.

The rainy weather become an obstacle for the search mission. Herman said that the SAR team only managed to find and lift one body yesterday due to the weather and the ongoing earthquake in Cianjur Regency.

The search for victims ended on Wednesday, 30 November 2022, but extended for three days from 1 until 3 December 2022.

Herman hopes that all the missing victims of the Cianjur earthquake will be found before the search period ends.

"Earlier in Cicadas, (the victim) was found at 2.10 p.m., because it was raining and there were two aftershocks," said Herman. The weather and aftershocks also affected the efforts by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

"There will be 2 days and hopefully they can be found, and hopefully the weather will be favorable tomorrow," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the injured victims, he said there were 595 people until yesterday. Herman said that 59 victims who suffered from serious injuries are treated at Cianjur Hospital.

Indonesian government does not classify the Cianjur earthquake as a national disaster, but regional disaster. 

Besides the efforts to find the victims, there has also been problems of people who behaved disgracefully against the relief efforts. 

One of them was when some men stripped the labels on the tents provided by a church. The labels on the tents shown the name of the Indonesian Reformed Evangelical Church.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil was outraged by the actions, and the police have investigated several people related to the incident.

"IT WAS REGRETTABLE and MUST NOT BE REPEATED," said Governor Ridwan Kamil on his Instagram. He also warned people not to sully the humanitarian efforts by hatred.

Former Head of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Said Aqil also criticized that behavior. He encourages people from all backgrounds to help the victims in Cianjur. NU is one of the most influential Islamic organizations in Indonesia. 

Writer: Adelina Wahyu Martanti

Fachrur Rozie contributed to this report.