At 2:55 PM local time on Wednesday 2 September, an earthquake with a 7.3 magnitude shook the area 142 km southwest Tasikmalaya, West Java. The tremor was felt 380km from Tasikmalaya in Jakarta, and as far as Bali and Sumatra.

Based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BPNP), as of Friday 4 September the number of deaths recorded was 59, and 37 people were listed as missing from the Cianjur District. 25,242 people from 7 districts in West Java and 2388 people from Cilacap regency had been made refugees.

 

Landslides which occurred in the villages of Cikangkareng, Cibinong and Cianjur in West Java caused the burial of 11 houses and one mosque.

 

A number of Pekerti’s artisans live in West Java, in Ciamis, Sumedang and Tasikmalaya. We are currently endeavoring to contact all of our producers, some of whose homes and workshops have suffered minor damage.

Realising the damage caused by the earthquake in this community, Pekerti plans to provide first aid to victims of the disaster on 5 September. We hope that, with financial help, Pekerti can improve the situation for victims. Pekerti will continue to gather data and report on the situation in West Java.