7 Dead after Strong Earthquake Strikes Sumatra's West Pasaman

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has reported that the powerful earthquake in Pasaman, West Sumatra, killed seven people.

“BNPB’s Operations Control Center informed that as of 16:30 local time, three people died in West Pasaman Regency and four in Pasaman Regency,” said the agency’s spokesman Abdul Muhari on Friday, Feb. 25.

The number of injured people also reached 85. In detail, 10 people were seriously injured while the rest 50 people in West Pasaman and 25 people in Pasaman were slightly injured.

As of the time, 5,000 residents were evacuated to 35 points including in Talamau, Pasaman, and Kinali Districts. Officers in the field, however, are still recording the number of evacuees.

“Joint officers from BPBD (Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency), TNI (Indonesian Military), Polri (National Police), Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), organizational personnel as well as volunteers and residents are still focusing on searching, rescuing, and evacuating people as well as services to affected residents,” said Abdul.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked West Pasaman at 08:39 local time, Feb. 25. It was previously preceded by a 5.2-magnitude quake. As of 10:06 local time, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 15 aftershocks with the largest magnitude of 4.2.

Read: BMKG Warns of Possible Aftershocks of West Pasaman Earthquake

DEWI NURITA