At least 82 killed in massive Indonesia quake
At least 82 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok yesterday, one week after another massive quake. Visuals showed frantic relief operations as rescuers carried injured people on stretchers and carpets. In neighboring Bali too, people were seen running in panic while vehicles and buildings shook. Hundreds are injured and the toll is likely to rise.
Most deaths a result of collapsing houses
The quake, with a strength of 7.0 and depth of 10.5km, struck early last evening in northern Lombok. According to National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, most people were killed by collapsing houses. Sixty-five casualties were recorded in North Lombok, nine in West Lombok, four in provincial capital Mataram and two each in Central and East Lombok.
Tourists seen fleeing
Thousands of houses destroyed, people displaced
A tsunami warning was issued, but it was later lifted, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency conveyed. The Bali and Lombok airports continued operations, though both sustained damage. The latter was evacuated for half hour due to power cuts. Thousands were displaced after some 3,000 houses were destroyed. Mobile and landline services were disrupted in various places. Several strong aftershocks followed the main quake.
Indonesia, on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly vulnerable
The island is just recovering from a 6.4 magnitude quake on July 29, which killed 16 and briefly stranded hundreds of hikers near a volcano. Indonesia, located on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' is highly prone to earthquakes. The deadliest incident in recent times was December 2004, when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra killed 230,000 people in around 12 countries.
