VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is focusing its search for victims of the 5.4-magnitude earthquake on Thursday at Cirita Cafe in Jayapura City, Papua.

"The results of our coordination with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and data reporting from the results of data collection in the field are currently still being carried out together with efforts to search for victims, especially in locations of buildings that are affected," the acting head of BNPB’s Disaster Data and Information Center, Abdul Muhari, said in Jakarta on Thursday.

In addition, Muhari informed that his party is focusing the search on Cirita Cafe, one of the cafeterias located on the seafront, which collapsed in the earthquake.

According to reports received at 5 p.m. local time, four victims were found dead in the debris of Cirita Cafe, which collapsed and sank due to the tremors produced by the quake. The victims were cafe visitors who did not get time to save themselves.

"The victims were trapped under the collapsed cafe covered by the roof. They did not have time to run and had difficulty saving themselves," Muhari said.

He later informed that the search for victims is still ongoing. He expressed the hope that the victims who are currently still trapped are alive and will be saved soon.

In addition to the casualties, the BNPB received reports of material losses in the form of one collapsed shop unit, one affected hospital unit, and one affected mosque. Several buildings, including shops and a number of residential areas, were also affected and suffered moderate to severe damage.

"Until now the joint BPBD, search and rescue (SAR) team, military, and police personnel are still carrying out search and rescue together with data collection on victims. BNPB will inform immediately regarding significant developments," he said.  (antaranews)