Asia-Pacific

At least 10 dead as fresh tremors hit Lombok island

Indonesian region sees over 100 aftershocks after 6.9-magnitude quake on Sunday night

A series of earthquakes, including a powerful 6.9 magnitude tremor, have struck the Indonesian holiday island of Lombok, killing one person. Video: Amre Mogen

Mon Aug 20 2018 - 17:05

At least 10 people were killed by strong tremors that rocked Indonesia’s holiday island of Lombok on Sunday, authorities said, following the latest in a series of earthquakes that has killed hundreds and forced thousands to flee their homes in recent weeks.

Since July 29th, nearly 500 people have died in quakes and aftershocks across the northern coast of the island, which lies just east of Indonesia's top tourist destination, Bali.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman at the national disaster mitigation agency, said on Monday relief and reconstruction efforts had been “intensified”.

“The rebuilding of public facilities like hospitals and schools is being speeded up,” he said.

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He said more than 100 aftershocks had been recorded since Sunday night’s magnitude 6.9 quake, which sent panicked residents into the streets and cut power and communication lines across the island.

Aftershocks ranging between magnitude 4 and 5 were continuing on Monday morning and access to some areas had been cut off by landslides triggered by the tremors, according to officials in Mataram, Lombok's main city.

A collapsed mosque is seen after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Sembalun, Lombok, Indonesia. Photograph: STR/EPA

Sunday’s quake came exactly a fortnight after another 6.9-magnitude earthquake which killed about 460 people and prompted massive search, rescue and relief efforts.

Authorities estimate that the August 5th earthquake caused 5 trillion rupiah (€299 million) of damage on Lombok.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have been left homeless and are camped out in open fields, refusing to shelter indoors due to continuing tremors.

Aid organisations like Save The Children said they were “ready to scale up their humanitarian response”.

"The population feels like it's had the rug pulled from under them with this new quake," said Caroline Haga, humanitarian and emergency communications specialist with the Red Cross. – Reuters

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