Garut, W Java, May 2 -- The Garut office of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) confirmed here on Wednesday that none of the residents took refuge following the recent powerful earthquake that struck the district's area on April 27.

According to the agency's acting head, Aah Anwar Saefuloh, the quake-affected residents believe that their houses are still safe and secure, so they prefer staying at home to taking refuge.

The magnitude 6.2 earthquake that rattled Garut District, West Java, on April 27 at midnight damaged 459 houses as well as 54 infrastructure and public facilities, including schools and hospitals.

The damaged buildings were found in 101 villages of 29 sub-districts, he remarked, adding that the quake also inju...