We, at the Religious Affairs Ministry, are also collecting data and preparing assistance for (the restoration of) worship places and educational facilities, so the students can still get their education rights, especially now that the educational calJakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas invited all Muslims in Indonesia to conduct Salat al-Gha'ib, or absentee funeral prayer, for victims of the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Cianjur District, West Java Province.
"Let us do the Salat al-Gha'ib. Hopefully, they (the victims who passed away) would receive forgiveness and mercy from Allah SWT (Subhanahu wa-Ta'ala)," he noted here on Tuesday.
The minister also expressed condolences over the people who died and were injured due to the disaster that struck on land at the depth of 10 kilometers on Monday at 1:21 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).
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"We are saddened and grieving over our brothers and sisters, who are affected by the disaster, especially the ones in Cianjur District," he stated.
Furthermore, the minister invited all believers across Indonesia to pray for the smooth evacuation of the residents still buried under the buildings, as the evacuation was hindered at some locations due to limited equipment and landslides.
"A joint team from BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency), military, police, and other stakeholders have gone to the affected areas. Let us pray that their task will be eased, so that all victims can be evacuated properly," he remarked.
Qoumas made assurance that the government was leaving no stone unturned to provide the best assistance to survivors of the earthquake, including in restoring the damaged infrastructure.
"We, at the Religious Affairs Ministry, are also collecting data and preparing assistance for (the restoration of) worship places and educational facilities, so the students can still get their education rights, especially now that the educational calendar is nearing the end of the semester," he remarked.
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The BNPB had recorded that as of Tuesday at 9:55 a.m. WIB, some 103 people had passed away due to the earthquake. Most of them died from being struck by collapsed buildings.
The agency has also noted that 25 people are reported missing. The officers are still on the lookout for victims buried under the ruins.
Tremors arising from the earthquake disaster damaged thousands of buildings, including houses, schools, madrasas or Islamic schools, pesantren or Islamic boarding schools, universities, mosques, office buildings, as well as health facilities.
As a result of the disaster, 7,060 people in Cianjur District, four residents in Bogor District, and eight families in Sukabumi District were compelled to take refugee.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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