The National Police distributed one thousand blankets and 300 folding mattresses to those affected by the 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Cianjur District, West Java.

Chief of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo, representing the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, distributed aid to displaced residents at the Cianjur Police Headquarters, Tuesday.

“These mattresses and blankets were included along with three thousand food aid packages distributed by the National Police Chief,” Prasetyo stated.

According to Prasetyo, this aid aims to accommodate the requirements of women and children, who were victims of the earthquake.

The assistance will be evaluated, both the amount and needs of the community.

“Of course, later, it will be added according to the needs of the community in the field,” he stated.

In addition to deploying aid, the National Police dispatched around 350 joint personnel of the Mobile Brigade, Pusdokes, and Sabhara to assist in the evacuation of residents.

This assistance aims to help in slightly easing the burden on people affected by the earthquake.

“Disaster management requires synergy and collaboration between the local government, TNI/Polri, BNPB, Basarnas, volunteers, and all levels of society to relieve the affected victims,” he noted.

A search was still conducted to look for residents, who had not been found. Evacuation locations were at several points worst affected by the earthquake, such as in the villages of Nagrak and Cugenang.

“Several points are still being evacuated in Cugenang and Nagrak that are still a bit isolated. Troops will focus there in order to evacuate victims,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Safsah, 19, a victim who sought refuge at the Headquarters of the Cianjur Police, said that residents needed assistance in the form of medicines, blankets, and mattresses.

In addition, residents sought help, so they could meet their families affected by the earthquake.

“Breakfast was available, we need clothes,” Safsah, who is nine months pregnant, said.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is coordinating with various related ministries and agencies in order to expedite the handling of the 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Cianjur District, West Java.

“The emergency response period is targeted to last for one week, and within that time, the search and evacuation process is expected to be completed,” BNPB Head Lieutenant General Suharyanto earlier noted in a statement received here on Tuesday.

Suharyanto also urged related ministries and institutions to work together and collaborate in order to speed up the emergency response.

He said the BNPB had also deployed personnel and logistics to the disaster site and had prepared a helicopter for aid distribution.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary of BNPB Lilik Kurniawan said that the top priority for handling emergencies was searching for and evacuating victims, handling refugees, and repairing vital facilities as well as clearing roads of materials that blocked road access.

In handling refugees, Kurniawan emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation to provide services to survivors and refugees.

Kurniawan also urged each related ministry and institution to place a liaison to facilitate coordination and communication, so synergy and collaboration of resources is expected to be optimized and to run effectively.

“In the search and evacuation of victims, search and evacuation as well as treatment of injured residents should be conducted,” he stated.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was centered on land, 10 km southwest of Cianjur District, West Java Province. This phenomenon occurred on Monday (Nov 21) at 13:21 WIB.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the strength of the earthquake was measured on the MMI or modified Mercalli intensity scale.

The Cianjur area experienced an earthquake on the MMI scale V-VI; Garut and Sukabumi, MMI IV-V; and Cimahi, Lembang, Bandung City, Cikalong Wetan, Rangkasbitung, Bogor, and Bayah, MMI III, while a quake of MMI II–III was recorded in Rancaekek, South Tangerang, DKI Jakarta, and Depok.

Source: Antara News