RAMALLAH- President Mahmoud Abbas sent his condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo over the victims of the earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Java and so far killed more than 250 people and injured over 300 others while causing heavy damage and destruction.
“We are following with great sorrow and concern the news of the earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Java, and which has claimed the lives of dozens and injured hundreds of the brotherly Indonesian people,” said President Abbas in his message. “As we extend to your Excellency, your people, and the families of the victims our heartfelt condolences, we want to express our full solidarity with you in this calamity and ask God Almighty to have mercy on the dead, speedy recovery to the wounded, and a safe rescue to the trapped.”
The death toll from the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the island of West Java continues to rise and is believed to have exceeded 250 and more than 300 are injured, as work to rescue people who are still trapped under the rubble continues.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which struck at noon on Monday, was near the town of Cianjur in a mountainous area in Indonesia’s largest province in terms of population.
The earthquake, which was felt in the capital, Jakarta, about 75 km away, damaged at least 2,200 homes and displaced more than 5,000 people, according to Indonesian officials.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency