Aftershocks Continue to Shake Jayapura, 2,137 People Evacuate

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Residents in one of the evacuation posts in the Batu Putih area, Jayapura City, Papua, Friday (10/2/2023). They evacuated after the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that left four residents dead.

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS – Aftershocks continue to shake Jayapura, Papua, until Friday (10/2/2023) after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit the area on Thursday (9/2). A total of 2,137 people have fled to 16 evacuation sites.

Shallow earthquakes struck Jayapura up until Friday 7 p.m. Eastern Time Zone (WIT), with a total of five earthquakes hitting Papua’s capital city in the morning, afternoon and evening up until 5:54 p.m. WIT.

From 2 January 2023 until Friday at 6 p.m. WIT, Jayapura was hit by 1,155 shallow earthquakes.

According to the results of an analysis by the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) in Jayapura the aftershocks were triggered by the movement of active local faults and the fragile condition of the rocks. However, BMKG Jayapura has been unable to identify the local faults due to limited equipment.

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BMKG Jayapura observer Muhammad Nadhi Ahsan revealed on Friday that the majority of earthquake epicenters over the past month were located in two locations in the city, namely North Jayapura and South Jayapura.

“We hope that residents who live in these epicenters will improve their disaster mitigation. One way is to check the condition of buildings post-earthquake,” said Nadhi.

Evacuees

Apart from being cautious of aftershocks, the local administration must also focus on managing the evacuees. Head of the Civil Service Police Unit and the Papua Disaster Mitigation Agency Welliam Manderi said 2,137 displaced residents were spread across two districts, namely South Jayapura and North Jayapura.

According to Welliam, his team has distributed seven tents to a number of evacuation sites in the two districts.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Evacuation post for patients in the parking area of the Jayapura Regional General Hospital in Jayapura City, Papua, Thursday (9/2/2023). Around 300 patients were evacuated to post-earthquake posts in Jayapura City with a magnitude of 5.2.

Previously, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Jayapura on Thursday at 3:28 p.m. WIT. The earthquake lasted about 5 seconds, with its epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers, thus triggering strong vibrations.

Based on data from the Jayapura Health Agency, the earthquake killed four people and injured 18 due to falling debris. The injured are currently being treated at the Jayapura Regional General Hospital, the Dr. Soedibjo Sardadi Navy Hospital and the Marthen Indey Army Hospital.

“The evacuees need more tents, beds and ready-to-eat meals. We continue to coordinate with the Jayapura Regional Disaster Management Agency in handling the evacuees,” said Welliam.

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Jayapura acting Regional Secretary Robby Kepas Awi said the Jayapura administration has declared a status of emergency for 21 days following the earthquake that hit on Thursday. The administration also dismissed elementary to high school students early. Students will return to school on Monday (13/2).

Preliminary data records show around 60 buildings were damaged. “The Jayapura Public Works Agency continues to record damaged buildings. We urge the public not to use buildings that have been heavily damaged as aftershocks still continue,” said Robby.

We urge the public not to use buildings that have been heavily damaged as aftershocks still continue.

Jayapura Health Agency head Ni Nyoman Sri Antari stated that health services would carry on even though some health facilities had been affected by the earthquake. There are six health community centers (Puskesmas) with cracked walls, while the Marthen Indey Hospital and Provita Hospital both have to treat patients in the parking lot.

A Social Affairs Ministry expert staff for social rehabilitation, Benhur Tomi Mano, said his party had prepared 10 tents for patients at the Jayapura Hospital and four evacuation sites. They will also provide ready-to-eat meals for the evacuees.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.