Philippines Condoles With Quake-Hit Indonesia

Manila, Philippines, MINA — The Philippines has extended its condolences to the families of those who were killed after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Lombok on Sunday.

At least 91 people were killed and more than 200 people were seriously injured, according to reports.

The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta said there have been no reports that any of the 250 members of the Filipino community in Lombok and nearby areas were among the dead and injured.

“We also ask our nationals in the area who may have been affected to contact the embassy if they require assistance,” Philstar reported, citing Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement.

A seven-member Philippine delegation attending a meeting were also in Lombok when the quake ocurred. Philippine Ambassador to Jakarta Leehiong Wee said the they are safe and will be evacuated from the island.

The powerful quake Sunday night came a week after a magnitude 6.4 quake hit the same area, leaving 17 persons dead, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

According to Wee, the tremor was also felt in Bali, triggering a tsunami alert which was later lifted.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency says the death toll from the earthquake on Lombok has risen to 91 and could rise further as rescuers still haven’t reached some of the worst affected areas in the north of the island.

Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said there is “massive” damage in north Lombok from the quake that struck early Sunday evening.

He said thousands of houses and other buildings have been damaged and most of the deaths counted so far were caused by collapsing houses.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered cabinet ministers and military and police chiefs to accelerate the disaster relief effort. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)