More than 160 people have died after a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's West Java province on Monday afternoon.
In a statement released by Cianjur disaster management officials, hundreds of people were injured in the calamity.
The Agency's head, Herman Suherman, says buildings hit most of those who died while others were hit on the head.
"All you can hear here is ambulance sirens everywhere; many families in the villages have not been evacuated," he added.
Additionally, Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency(BNPB) Regional Governor Ridwan Kamil says that 13,000 people have been displaced and more remain trapped in the debris.
He has assured the residents of the government's support in responding to the disaster's aftermath and other emergencies.
"This is a frightening disaster season at the end of the year", he concluded.
According to the US Geological Survey data, the earthquake hit Cianjur town at a shallow depth of six miles.
Further, Cianjur town is overpopulated and prone to landslides, with many poorly built houses reduced to rubble.
Rescue teams have worked through the night to ensure they save those trapped inside collapsed buildings.
It has also been confirmed that the earthquake was experienced in other neighbouring cities of Bandung, Sukabumi and Jakarta when it hit, leading to evacuations from some buildings.
Indonesia is a hotbed of earthquakes in a seismic zone that causes significant destruction if followed by tsunamis.
However, this is considered one of Indonesia's most destructive earthquakes ever to be witnessed.
For instance, more than 2,000 people died in 2018 when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake trailed by a tsunami occurred.
To add to that, more than 200,000 people died after an underwater earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a tsunami.
The country also experiences other natural disasters when struck by heavy monsoon winds that cause floods.
