PAPUAAROUND – An earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5.4 in Jayapura, Papua resulted in 29 buildings being damaged and 2,500 residents being displaced.
In addition, four residents died because they were buried under the rubble of a collapsed building in the sea.
The Jayapura City Government declared a state of emergency for the next 21 days following the earthquake on Thursday (9/2/2023).
Acting Regional Secretary of Jayapura City, Robby Awi said, 15 evacuation points had been prepared for residents whose houses were damaged.
“It has been prepared since yesterday after the earthquake until evening in Ardipura Village, Polimak III, Numbay Village, Bhayangkara Village, Angkasa and Tanjung Riam,” he said as quoted by TribunPapua.com, Saturday (11/2/2023).
The needs of the refugees will be borne by the government, starting from consumption, clothing, to medicine.
Also read : Earhquake M 5,4 Rocks Jayapura, Damaged Mall Buildings-Cafes Drifted Into the Sea
BNPB Provides Assistance of IDR 1 Billion
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also distributed IDR 1 billion in assistance to boost the handling of earthquake emergency response in Jayapura.
Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB, Maj. Gen. TNI Fajar Setyawan said the assistance had been symbolically handed over to the Acting Mayor of Jayapura, Frans Pekey.
“We were assigned to BNPB RI to go straight to Jayapura City which was affected by the earthquake on February 9, 2023, with the aim of ascertaining what happened and seeing the impact,” he explained, Saturday (11/2/2023).
The assistance worth IDR 1 billion consists of IDR 750 million in ready-to-use funds, IDR 250 million for equipment logistics assistance, and compensation for the heirs of the deceased victims.
Apart from cash, the assistance received was in the form of 3,000 blankets and 5 emergency tents.
“So indeed we don’t just come to monitor, but bring assistance in the form of cash for operations and food ingredients for people in need,” he added.
The presence of BNPB is expected to be a real indication of the central government’s concern for the victims of the Jayapura earthquake.
Also read : Why is Papua Often Hit by Earthquakes? Here’s the BMKG Explanation