Losses from East Java earthquake reach Rp 3.5b

JAKARTA (JP): Monday's earthquake in East Java caused estimated losses of at least Rp 3.5 billion (US$325,000), East Java Governor Imam Utomo said on Wednesday during a visit to part of the worst-hit area in the Malang regency.

The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale was also felt in Bali and West Nusa Tenggara. A second tremor occurred early on Tuesday. A 40-year-old woman died when hit by falling debris and hundreds were left homeless.

Antara quoted provisional data supplied by the East Java natural disaster task force which showed the earthquake damaged 427 houses in Bali and East Java, of which 190 collapsed.

Sumbermanjing Wetan district estimated losses of Rp 1.7 billion. The governor visited families there and symbolically distributed Rp 50 million in aid and seven tons of rice to residents of 10 villages.

Imam pledged more aid for residents if they asked for funds to rebuild their homes.

"We still have to list the people's needs. The important things are the provision of food and the continuation of children's schooling, " he said.

He said the administration had so far allocated Rp 1 billion to help victims.

The earthquakes followed an earlier one measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, before dawn on Sept. 21 in Jakarta. Damage was reportedly minimal and no panic or casualties were reported.

Meterologists placed the epicenter of the Monday and Tuesday earthquakes at a depth of 177 kilometers in the Indian Ocean, 90 kilometers south of Blitar, East Java.

On Tuesday an expert in Bandung, Engkon Kertapati, said zoning on more specific areas was needed to improve anticipation of earthquakes. (01)