Almost Half of Quake Victims are Children
The BNPB also recorded that 2,043 people were injured, more than 61,000 displaced and 40 still missing. Around 56,000 houses had been damaged, of which 22,000 suffered heavy damaged.
President Joko Widodo again directly inspected a number of locations affected by the earthquake during his visit to Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, on Thursday (11/24/2022).
Almost half of the victims killed in the Cianjur earthquake were children. Some were found trapped under the wreckage of collapsed schools and houses. A building audit must be urgently conducted.
CIANJUR, KOMPAS – Until Thursday evening (24/11/2022), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) had recorded that 34 percent of the 165 fatalities, or 51 people, caused by the Cianjur earthquake in West Java were children.
The National Police’s victim identification team, however, reported slightly different numbers. Of the 131 body bags handled by the team, half of them contained the bodies of children.
Many of the victims were children because some were still at school when the earthquake occurred, while others had gone home.
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The 5.6-magnitude earthquake, its epicenter located in Cugenang district, Cianjur, struck on Monday afternoon (21/11) and destroyed dozens of structures, among them Sukamaju 1 state elementary school in kampungPangkalan, Genjot village, Cugenang.
“The structure that had just been built in 2019 was destroyed,” Yadi (58), chairman of the Sukamaju 1 elementary school committee, said on Wednesday.
Seeing the ruins of houses and schools reminded her of the terrifying earthquake.
Zahwa (9), a student at Sukamaju 1 elementary school, is still traumatized, especially when aftershocks occurred following the earthquake. Seeing the ruins of houses and schools reminded her of the terrifying earthquake. “[I’m] afraid. I don’t want to go to school,” said the third grader.
A student at PGRI Cugenang junior high school, Neng Nesa (14), revealed that she has experienced restlessness during sleep because of the frequent aftershocks that occur every day. “It’s sad that we don’t have anything. We sleep in a tent, eat in moderation. There are no memories of home because it was all destroyed,” she said.
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Azka Maulana Malik (5) accompanied by his father, Muhammad Eka Shihabudin (38), at the Sayang Regional General Hospital, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Thursday (11/24/2022).
A young mother, Sinta (27), found it difficult to live in a tent with four toddlers. They were fussy because they don’t have enough space to move, they don’t have any toys and they don’t feel as comfortable as they were at home.
The number of children affected by the earthquake is based on data from the BNPB. Acting head of the disaster data, information and communication center, Abdul Muhari, said that as of Thursday afternoon, a total of 272 people had been evacuated and 165 bodies had been identified.
“The number of victims under 15 years old has not increased from yesterday [Wednesday], namely 51 children,” he said at the Cianjur regent’s office.
Head of the disaster victim identification division of the National Police’s medical and health center, Sr. Comr. Ahmad Fauzi, added that he had handled the bodies of 59 children under the age of 15 and 64 adults.
Around 56,000 houses had been damaged, of which 22,000 suffered heavy damaged.
The BNPB also recorded that 2,043 people were injured, more than 61,000 displaced and 40 still missing. Around 56,000 houses had been damaged, of which 22,000 suffered heavy damaged.
One of the schools in Cianjur, West Java, which was affected by the earthquake on Monday (11/21/2022).
Based on age, the groups most vulnerable to being affected by disasters, especially earthquakes, are children and the elderly.
“When an earthquake occurs during the day, many of the victims are usually children because they are in school. It’s a different matter when they are playing outside in the afternoon. Elderly people are also affected because they are inside the houses. On the other hand, earthquakes that occur at night result in victims from all age groups.” said Abdul.
Cijedil and Warung Shinta
Bandung Search and Rescue (SAR) head Jumaril, who is also the SAR Mission Coordinator, said the search for missing persons was focused in Cijedil village and in Warung Sate Shinta 2, Cianjur. Dozens of people were still reported missing under the rubble in the two places.
President Joko Widodo visits earthquake victims at the Sayang Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Cianjur Regency, West Java, Thursday (11/24/2022).
“[The operations in] Both locations will be reinforced with sniffer dogs and life detectors,” he said. His team would also examine 12 affected districts.
Earlier, BNPB head Suharyanto explained that 6,000 personnel had been dispatched to search for missing victims. “Search and resdue is being done continuously and tirelessly,” he said.
Regarding complaints that aid had not been received, Suharyanto explained that the aid distribution involved village officials.
“Every day at 8 a.m., subdistrict heads submit their needs and deliveries are made every morning. Later, the village head, babinsa [non-commissioned village supervisors], and bhabinkamtibmas [public order officers] will distribute them to the evacuation posts," he said.
He urged all parties to channel aid through a post at the Cianjur regent’s office.
School building audits
According to data from the national secretariat of the disaster-safe education division (Seknas SPAB) of the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, more than 500 school buildings, from early childhood education to tertiary institutions, had been damaged by the earthquake in Cianjur. Some were mildly damaged, while others had suffered moderate and severe damage.
Local administrations have been encouraged to test the feasibility of school buildings to ensure the safety of children and educational staff. “How can a newly built building comply with security and safety standards? Schools that have been built need to be audited to check their sturdiness,” said SPAB expert staffer Jamjam Muzaki.
The SOP must contained detailed instructions for students on how to reach the evacuation point in the event of an earthquake.
Each school is also required to have a standard operating procedure (SOP) for disaster management. The SOP must contained detailed instructions for students on how to reach the evacuation point in the event of an earthquake.
Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) investigator Supartoyo said building audits were urgently needed to prevent more victims, especially in earthquake-prone areas.
One of the evacuation tents for residents from the Ministry of Social Affairs at RT 003/RW 004 Gasol, Cugenang, Cianjur, West Java on Thursday (11/24/2022).
During his second working visit to Cianjur, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made assurances that rescue operations for earthquake victims, the search for missing persons and medical treatment for the injured in evacuation posts would proceed as smoothly as possible. The President reiterated that the government would provide Rp 50 million in assistance for severely damaged houses, Rp 25 million for moderately damaged houses and Rp 10 million for mildly damaged houses.
Four days after the earthquake, aid is also being channeled from many regions within and outside the country. Aid has come from Singapore and other Southeast Asian cities, banking circles, regional administrations across the country as well as from the general public. (RTG/GIO/Z02/Z14/CHE/TAM/WKM)
This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.
