Jakarta (ANTARA) - The residents of homes that suffered severe damage in the Cianjur earthquake will be relocated to a site away from the earthquake fault, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has said.

"We will handle the relocation of severely damaged houses caused by the earthquake. Meanwhile, houses with minor and moderate damage will not be relocated and are under the responsibility of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)," the ministry's spokesperson, Endra S. Atmawidjaja, informed in Jakarta on Thursday.

The relocation will be carried out to prevent a larger impact from another earthquake in the future, he added.

"We already know that an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 will have such a big impact, especially if a bigger earthquake occurs in the future. Of course, we do not want that. However, we still ask the community to voluntarily agree to the relocation proposal of the local government," Atmawidjaja said.

He informed that the government has prepared 2.5 hectares of land in Cilaku sub-district for the relocation.

"We have prepared 2.5 hectares of land, which is enough for 200 housing units. People whose houses were severely damaged and cannot be repaired can move to the area," he said.

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Homes in the relocation area will be built using the Simple Healthy Instant House (RISHA) technology, which is designed to be earthquake-resistant.

"The materials have been sent yesterday, we can start the installation immediately," Atmawidjaja informed.

Earlier, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono had shared his plans to build earthquake-resistant homes for victims whose houses had suffered severe damage or had collapsed, or victims who had to be relocated due to the Cianjur quake.

In addition, those whose houses suffered mild and moderate damage will receive compensation of Rp50 million from BNPB.

Hadimuljono has directed the ministry's director general of housing to verify the homes of Cianjur earthquake victims.

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Cianjur district, West Java, at 1:21 p.m. local time on November 21. It was centered 10 kilometers (km) southwest of the district at a depth of 10 km, with no potential to trigger a tsunami.

According to the BNPB, as of November 29, the earthquake had claimed 327 lives and caused 108,720 residents to vacate their homes.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
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