Herman Suherman, a district official from Cianjur, told newsmen, evacuation efforts were being hampered by landslides in some places.

Many people were hurt because they were hit by collapsed buildings, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, with some residents trapped in the rubble.

The earthquake hit the Cianjur region in West Java province at a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.

Several landslides were reported around Cianjur and dozens of buildings were damaged, including an Islamic boarding school, a hospital and other public facilities.