REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is waiting for reports of possible victims in the 5.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Mamberamo, Papua, Saturday.
"Search efforts for the victims is being undertaken by regional authorities and we are waiting for the information," BNPB head of data, information and public relations Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
The region that was hit is a jungle and is far away from the populated area, so it was unlikely that there would be victims in the incident, he said.
"Earthquakes have often happened in the region, but mostly they have claimed no lives as the location is an inland region," he said.
He would keep coordinating with the regional chapter of BNPB in Mamberamon Raya, so that an inventory of victims or damage if any could be immediately made, Sutopo said.
The Jayapura chapter of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) reported an earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter Scale in Mamberamo Raya, Papua, at 11.30 am on Saturday with its epicenter around 67 kilometers southwest of the district.
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in the district in the middle of 2015 leaving one person dead and several houses damaged.
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