On Monday, November 21, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake stuck the Cianjur region of the island of Java in Indonesia. The area struck includes the area where the Carmelite affiliated Putri Karmel sisters and the Carmelitae Sancti Eliae are located. One building in Cikanyere suffered extensive damage to its roof. There were no injuries.
An estimated 22,000 homes and buildings in a highly populated area of West Java province were toppled. An estimated 268 people were killed with at least a thousand injured. Some 150 people remain missing. Some 58,000 people have been displaced.
The majority of those who died are thought to be children, many attending school. More than fifty schools are said to have been impacted.
