Indonesia (MNN) — The desperate search for survivors continues in West Java, Indonesia.
Monday’s 5.6-magnitude earthquake toppled entire buildings, and scores of people remain trapped in the debris. More than 268 have died, and the death toll will rise as responders uncover more victims. Last night, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil told a press conference, “the majority of those who died were children.”
“The earthquake happened in Cianjur,” says Juserdi Purba, Country Director for Indonesia with Asian Access.
“This earthquake destroyed many houses, and hundreds of people were injured.”
Disaster agencies recorded 25 aftershocks in the first two hours following yesterday’s quake. Following initial reports of 48 casualties, the death toll rose by more than 100 in a matter of hours.
Churches in the Asian Access network mobilized quickly to send aid, working through a seminary near the quake zone.
“We try to collect the donation to help the people [by providing] food, [clean water], clothes,” Purba says.
“We want to show the love [of Christ] to them.”
Send help in the name of Christ through Asian Access here. Pray that the compassion of Jesus will be tangible as believers help earthquake survivors.
Indonesia sits on the so-called “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific. The country has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, with a 2018 quake killing more than 2,000 people.
“Many people do not know exactly when earthquakes will happen. The government tried to help the local people prepare themselves to face any earthquake,” Purba says.
Header image depicts damage from a January 2021 earthquake. (Wikimedia Commons)
