LOMBOK STEPS UP QUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS
More than 100 aftershocks recorded after Sunday’s quake
AT least 10 people were killed by strong tremors that rocked Indonesia’s holiday island of Lombok on Sunday, authorities said following the latest in a series of earthquakes that killed hundreds and forced thousands to flee their homes in recent weeks.
Nearly 500 people have died in quakes and aftershocks since July 29 across the northern coast of the island, which lies just east of Indonesia’s top tourist destination, Bali.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman at the national disaster mitigation agency, said yesterday relief and reconstruction efforts had been “intensified”.
“The rebuilding of public facilities like hospitals and schools is being speeded up,” he said.
He said more than 100 aftershocks had been recorded since Sunday night’s magnitude 6.9 quake.
Aftershocks ranging between magnitude 4 and 5 were continuing yesterday and access to some areas had been cut off by landslides triggered by the tremors, according to officials in Lombok’s main city here.
Sunday’s quake came exactly a fortnight after another 6.9 magnitude earthquake which killed around 460 people and prompted massive search, rescue and relief efforts.
Authorities estimate that the Aug 5 earthquake caused 5 trillion rupiah (RM1.4 billion) of damage on Lombok.
Hundreds of thousands of residents have been left homeless and are camped out in open fields, refusing to shelter indoors due to continuing tremors.