Indonesia earthquake: Workers FLEE Jakarta offices as 6.1-magnitude quake rocks Java
A MASSIVE 6.1 magnitude earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Java, leaving “buildings swaying” in the capital of Jakarta as shocked residents are urged to evacuate their homes amid fears of aftershocks.
Office workers were forced to flee-high rise buildings in the capital while hundreds of people ran down the streets of downtown Jakarta when the quake struck.
Local TV showed patients being evacuated from a hospital in the capital.
Rudy Togatorop, 35, who works at the Chilean embassy, said: "We felt the earthquake for three to five minutes.
"I was just sitting down, then I felt the building swaying. The emergency stairs were very narrow. I was worried if something would happen."
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The quake struck around 65 miles west of the city of Sukabumi on the island of Java, at a depth of 21 miles.
No tsunami warnings were issued after the earthquake.
The Indonesia quake came just hours before an enormous 8.2-magnitude quake struck off the south-eastern coast of Alaska, prompting a tsunami warning for the entire US west coast and Canada.
The tremor appears to have been felt across the densely-populated island of Java, which is home to more than 50 million people.
People took to Twitter to give their account of the quake that “lasted around 20 seconds”.
WATCH: Jakarta residents flee their homes as earthquake strikes Indonesia
Indonesia earthquake: Live pictures as residents EVACUATE Jakarta
Tue, January 23, 2018Indonesia's capital Jakarta was rocked by a strong earthquake on January 23, forcing the evacuation of office buildings but there was no immediate threat of a tsunami or reports of injuries
People run onto the road following an earthquake in Jakarta
USGS
Kate Walton wrote on Twitter: “Strong earthquake in Jakarta just now. At least 20 seconds.”
Another user posted: An earthquake in Jakarta just now. It’s quite strong. We’re all outside now.”
A third stated: “Woa! Earthquake in Jakarta. The building is still swaying.”
Jakarta department store worker Suji, 35, told AFP: "I was sitting when the building suddenly started shaking.
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EPA
"I ran outside the building. It was quite strong and I was afraid."
"The epicentre is in an area prone to quakes. More aftershocks are very likely," Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati told Metro TV.
"I'm calling on people to be prepared, especially if you are in buildings with a weak structure," he added.
Just last month, Java was struck by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake which left four people dead and 36 injured.
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Indonesia is regularly rocked by earthquakes - the country is located on the Ring of Fire, a huge area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur.
In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.
The World Bank reckons natural disasters cost Indonesia 0.3 per cent of its GDP annually, but a 2015 report on disaster risk management prepared by Indonesia's government said a major earthquake, occurring once every 250 years, could cause losses in excess of $30billion, or three per cent of GDP.
