A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s main island of Java on 8^th December with no immediate reports of damage, less than a month after another quake in the same province killed more than 300 people.

The quake struck at 07:50 am local time (0050 GMT) around 15 kilometres from the town of Cianjur, epicentre of November’s devastating tremor, the United States Geological Survey said. It said there was a low likelihood of casualties or damage following the quake, which struck at a depth of 123 kilometres (76 miles).

Last month, a shallow 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Cianjur, triggering landslides and collapsing buildings, killing at least 334 people, injuring thousands and leaving tens of thousands more homeless.

Save the Children warned this week that evacuees faced a “ticking time bomb” of disease and infection due to poor living conditions. Thousands of cases of respiratory infections and hundreds of cases of diarrhoea have been reported.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is visiting the area on Thursday to distribute aid to affected residents. The tremor that struck Cinajur on November 21 was the deadliest in the archipelago nation since a 2018 quake and resulting tsunami killed more than 4,000 people on the island of Sulawesi.  Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

More:  PUNCHNG

Pray:    President of the Uniting Church in Australia Rev Sharon Hollis has offered this prayer:

God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Indonesia
and particularly the people of West Java
following the recent earthquake.
Be with them as they search for survivors
and recover the bodies of those who have died.

God of love we pray
For comfort for those grieving
For healing for those who are injured
For strength for first responders and medical staff
For wisdom for those who will plan the recovery.
Grant the people of West Java courage and strength
as they rebuild homes and businesses.
Grant them hope and resilience
as they rebuild lives and communities.

Stir up a spirit of generosity in us
that we may respond to the needs of our neighbours
with abundance and open heartedness. Amen.