Earthquake causes more deaths on island

AT LEAST three people have been killed after a strong earthquake struck Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Lombok.

The quake came a week after another in the same area killed more than a dozen people and triggered a brief tsunami warning.

Some people fled their homes and moved to higher ground and authorities said there had been a power blackout.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.0 quake struck early on Sunday evening at a depth of 10.5 six miles. Its epicentre was about one mile east of Loloan.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning after the quake struck, saying small waves were possible.

The agency’s head, Dwikorita Karnawati, later told MetroTV that the tsunami warning had ended.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told Kompas TV that the quake strongly jolted Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province, and may have caused damage there.

He said the quake was also felt in parts of neighbouring Bali island.

Video aired by Kompas TV showed patients being evacuated from a hospital in Bali’s Tabanan district.

Iwan Asmara, an official from the local Disaster Mitigation Agency, said people poured out from their houses in panic to move to higher ground, particularly in Mataram and North Lombok district.

A magnitude 6.4 quake hit Lombok on July 29, killing 16 people.

Like Bali, Lombok is known for pristine beaches and mountains. Hotels and other buildings in both locations are not allowed to exceed the height of coconut trees.