At lLeast Two People Have Died in the Latest Series of Quakes to Hit Indonesia’s Tourist Island of Lombok.
Mataram, MINA — A series of quakes including a strong 6.9-magnitude tremor have rocked the Indonesian holiday island of Lombok killing at least two people and damaging many homes,SBS News reported, citing officials.
The latest set of tremors, which were felt on the neighbouring island of Bali, hit late on Sunday two weeks after a devastating quake killed 460 people and displaced more than 400,000 others on the popular resort island.
One of the two victims from the most recent quake died on the neighbouring island of Sumbawa, said Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
Power is out across Lombok after the latest quake making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage. At least seven aftershocks were also recorded.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at a depth of 20 kilometres, 62 kilometres north-east of the city of Mataram. There was no risk of a tsunami.
A 6.5-magnitude quake struck nearby earlier on Sunday, toppling several houses that were already damaged from previous earthquakes and triggering landslides, Nugroho said.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Lombok Island on August 5, leaving 460 people dead, nearly 7,800 people injured and more than 417,000 displaced.
The damage from that disaster is expected to exceed $US500 million, according to the disaster agency.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
At least two people were killed and many homes were damaged after a new 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Lombok Island overnight, an official said Monday.
The quake late Sunday came two weeks after a devastating temblor killed hundreds of people and displaced more than 400,000 on the popular resort island.
One of the two victims from the most recent quake died on the neighbouring island of Sumbawa, said Sutopo Nugroho, BNBP spokesman.
Power was out across Lombok after the quake making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage, he said. At least seven aftershocks were recorded. (LT/R04/RS5)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
