Deaths Reported after Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Strikes Indonesian Resort Island of Lombok

 

Mataram, MINA — The three victims are from the northern and eastern side of the island which is popular with foreign tourists.

The quake hit early in the morning when many people were still sleeping. Many houses were damaged in the quake.

It struck 50km (30 miles) northeast of the island’s main city Mataram, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was quoted by South China Morning Post as saying.

Lombok in southeastern Indonesia is a popular tourist destination, and lies around 100km east of the resort island of Bali.

Indonesia’s geophysics and meteorology agency (BMKD) said at least 11 aftershocks were recorded after the 6.4-magnitude earthquake.

People living near the epicentre felt a strong jolt.

“The earthquake was very strong … and everybody in my house panicked, we all ran outside,” said Zulkifli, a resident of North Lombok, close to the epicentre.

“All my neighbours also ran outside and the electricity was suddenly cut off.”

Indonesia’s geophysics and meteorology agency said at least 11 aftershocks were recorded after the 6.4-magnitude earthquake. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismic activity hotspot.

It is frequently hit by quakes, most of them harmless. However, the region remains acutely alert to tremors that might trigger tsunamis.

In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, in western Indonesia, killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)