The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled Cianjur on November 21, 2022, claimed 329 lives and was causal to the forced evacuation of 114,414 people. The disaster also caused heavy damages to 4,376 houses, moderate damages to 5,306 houses, and minor damages to 8,182 houses.
"Residents, whose houses are heavily damaged or collapsed, will be rebuilt by the government, and those, who can afford it, get Rp50 million for the construction money," Cianjur District Head Herman Suherman stated here on Friday.
He noted that the reconstruction of damaged residential buildings in the sub-districts of Cianjur and Cugenang will be conducted in areas that are still suitable for living as well as relocation areas in the sub-districts of Cilaku, Pacet, and Mande.
In the first phase, the reconstruction will be conducted in Cilaku.
"We hope that residents, who relocate, can get houses soon and no longer need to live in tents. The government will accelerate the construction of houses for relocated residents," Suherman stated.
Meanwhile, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) emphasized the need for Indonesians to strengthen buildings or houses to be resistant to earthquakes.
"Strengthen the buildings to make them earthquake-proof. We need to remember that the highest (number of) deaths due to an earthquake is caused by building collapses," researcher at BRIN's Geological Disaster Research Center, Nuraini Rahma Hanifa, stated.
Hanifa said that houses can be designed to withstand earthquake shocks either by following building codes or by applying local creativity.
In addition, people should strengthen their furniture to prevent it from easily falling and breaking. People also need to prepare first-aid kits and emergency bags to survive independently for the first 36 hours after an earthquake strikes.
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Translator: Ahmad F, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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