Death toll from Indonesia earthquake climbs to 252

ANKARA (AA) – The death toll from an earthquake in Indonesia has climbed to 252, the local government of Cianjur town in West Java province said on Tuesday.

So far, 31 people have been reported missing, while 377 injured in the strong earthquake that struck the Cianjur regency on Monday, the Cianjur town government in an Instagram post stated, adding that 7,060 people have been displaced.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the earthquake has also caused huge damage to infrastructure and properties, with 3,075 houses lightly damaged, 33 moderately damaged, and 59 heavily damaged.

"The local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) is still collecting data regarding the number of victims, infrastructure damage, evacuation locations and urgent needs," the agency's spokesman, Abdul Muhari, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo visited the affected areas and met with locals in the affected areas.

"First of all, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, I would like to express my deep condolences, my condolences for the earthquake in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province," said the president.

He also assured the affected families that his government would provide assistance to residents whose houses have been damaged by the earthquake.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid