One of the victims is identified as Mateis Frans, a sand miner, who got buried by a landslide triggered by the tremor at Nania Village, Teluk Ambon Sub-district, head of the Maluku Social Office Sartono Pinning remarked when contacted here on Thursday.
Two other victims were a lecturer Narti Rumain and a resident of Waai Village La Nai, both of whom died after being buried under the debris of buildings.
Related news: Ambon earthquake claims one life
Several other residents suffered injuries owing to the tremor that caused damage to the Merah Putih Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge in the city spanning over Ambon Bay in Ambon Island and has emerged as the city’s landmark.
"We have appealed to the Hospital Dr Haulussy Ambon to provide tents to serve as temporary shelters for its patients outside the hospital building," he noted.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Ambon, Maluku Province, on Thursday at 8:46 a.m. local time.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located at 40 kilometers (km) northeast of Ambon, 43 km southeast of Western Seram, and at a depth of 10 km below sea level.
Related news: Ambon struck by 6.5-magnitude earthquake
The tremor did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami, but several residents were panic-stricken and fled to a hilly area.
A total of 54 aftershocks occurred following the 6.8-magnitude earthquake.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has called on residents to remain vigilant to possible aftershocks. EDITED BY INE
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Translator: Alex Sariwating, Sri Haryati
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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