Dozens dead as earthquake hits Indonesia's Java island

Hotel employees in Cianjur, Indonesia, check hurricane news
(Image credit: Adriana Adie/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the Indonesia's main island of Java early Monday, killing at least 46 people, officials said. The quake damaged dozens of buildings and prompted landslides around Cianjur in West Java province. It was felt as far away as Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is about 45 miles northwest of Cianjur.

"There are 46 dead people at the Cianjur regional hospital and around 700 injured people," National Disaster Mitigation Agency head Suharyanto said. "Many were hurt because they were hit by collapsed buildings." Among the buildings reported to be damaged were a hospital and an Islamic boarding school.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.