At least 3 dead as Indonesia quake sparks tsunami alert

A STRONG earthquake struck Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Lombok yesterday, killing at least three people, one week after another quake in the same area killed more than a dozen.

The latest quake, which triggered a brief tsunami warning, also shook neighboring Bali island. Authorities said the quake may have caused some damage. The latest quake caused people to flee their homes and move to higher ground.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.0 quake struck early yesterday evening at a depth of 10.5 kilometers. Its epicenter was about 2 kilometers east-southeast 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. She said the warning was for the lowest level of tsunami, and that small waves just 15 centimeters high were detected in three villages.

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 neighboring 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.