July 29, 2018, will be remembered as a day of disaster in Indonesia. The 6.4 magnitude Indonesia earthquake hit the central island of Lombok. The quake struck 7 o’ clock, local time.
The island is famous for its marvellous beaches and hiking trails. It attracts many tourists every year. It is located 40km east of Bali. The earthquake killed at least 16 people. Officials have confirmed that more than 160 people were injured and thousands of homes were damaged.
The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the earthquake was 50km (31 miles) north-east of the city of Mataram, in northern Lombok. It was followed by more than 60 smaller earthquakes, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 5.7.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country’s disaster agency, said that most casualties occurred when victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concrete. “The main focus now is evacuation and rescue. Some of the injured are still being treated at clinics,” he said.
More than 500 climbers are thought to be trapped on Mount Rinjani on the island of Lombok. Rescuers set off on Monday morning to help the climbers. They are stranded at two points on the mountain due to the landslide caused by the earthquake. Most trekking trails were blocked by debris.
The evacuation team, which set out at 7 am, comprised of 184 people, including military, police and medical personnel, volunteers and park staff. One of three key routes – the Senaru trekking route – leading to the summit has been cleared, park staff said. It remains unclear exactly how many climbers are stranded on Mount Rinjani after the Indonesia earthquake.
According to local reports, an Indonesian climber from Makassar was killed. He was killed by falling rocks during the landslide. Other climbers are believed to be in good health. The death toll from the Sunday quake has risen to 16. This includes a Malaysian tourist who was found dead after the walls of the house where she as staying caved in on her.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo arrived in Lombok on Monday morning. He visited the victims to oversee the provision of aid, including cash to help residents rebuild their homes.
