TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A strong earthquake that jolted Sumur Sub-district in Pandeglang District, Banten Province, on Friday has damaged 1,909 houses, Head of the Pandeglang Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Girgi Jantoro said.

The number of the damaged houses increased from 1,904 as the agency's personnel continue the data collection and verification on the residents' houses, damaged by the 6.6-magnitude earthquake, he said here Sunday.

The data collection must be precise, accurate, and valid to enable authorities to determine the affected residents who are eligible to receive the assistance, Jantoro said.

The Pandeglang district government, Banten provincial government, and National Disaster Mitigation Agency would help the affected residents repair or rebuild their damaged houses.

To this end, local authorities and volunteers continue collecting data on damaged houses in the aftermath of the strong earthquake, he said.

As of midday on Sunday, the quake had resulted in heavy damage to 337 houses, moderate damage to 424 houses, and light damage to 1,148 houses, according to the BPBD-Pandeglang Office.

The earthquake whose tremors could also be felt by those in Jakarta, Bogor, Lampung, and Bandung had also damaged 36 school buildings, 14 health facilities, 10 mosques, and three village offices.

"We believe that data on damaged houses will certainly increase as not all have been reported," he said.

Jantoro said his agency has yet to receive reports of casualties, but several residents were injured as a result of debris of damaged buildings.

As part of the disaster risk management, locals are suggested to stay vigilant, he said, adding that his agency continues to prioritize the availability of basic needs for the earthquake victims.

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ANTARA