Britons flee quake islands
Police chief Dewa Wijaya (inset) in front of crowds trying to leave the Gili Islands Helen Brady and James Kelsall, inset, were among the Britons trying to escape BRITISH holidaymakers trapped in Indonesia after a devastating earthquake have told of rioting and demands for money to escape on rescue boats.
Thousands of tourists were caught up in the chaos after a 6.9 magnitude quake hit the resort islands of Lombok and Gili on Sunday.
At least 98 people died, all Indonesians, and 209 were injured as buildings were reduced to rubble and bridges toppled.
As many as 10,000 people have been evacuated since the disaster and tourists flocked to beaches in an attempt to be rescued after a tsunami warning.
Take That singer Gary Barlow, who was holidaying with his family in the region, tweeted: “This morning I bumped into so many British families leaving Bali.
“I’ve had the misfortune of being in seven earthquakes but none have felt more deep and raw as last night’s.
“Followed by numerous aftershocks. Praying for everyone affected.”
Helen Milne, from Oxfordshire, whose daughter Laura was caught up in the mayhem, said: “They are stuck on the island and are reporting rioting, fighting and people can’t get on boats.
“There’s no water, no food, the shops have been ransacked. It’s a rapidly deteriorating situation.”
Screaming
Helen Brady, 29, a writer from Manchester, who was with her boyfriend James Kelsall, 28, said: “All the lights went out and most buildings were demolished. If we’d been one minute slower we’d have been dead, or at the very least severely injured.”
Mr Kelsall, of Woodford Green, east London, said: “There were lots of injuries and pain on the island.
“All the locals were frantically running and screaming, putting on life jackets.
“We followed them up to higher ground, which was a steep, uneven climb to the top of a hill in darkness.”
Ash Flay, whose sister Katy was attacked as she attempted to climb a tree amid tsunami warnings, said the rescue effort had been a “disgrace”.
In a message to her brother, Ms Flay, from Leeds, said: “Boats are leaving half empty as you need a ticket... no boats for everyone, just selected people. People are punching and hitting each other.”
Mr Flay said: “I had a phone call from Katy while the earthquake was happening. All I could hear was crashes, she then called again and said a tsunami warning is out and she’s climbed a tree.
“Katy climbed up one of the trees and then somebody kicked her out of it so she had to climb another one and then injured her foot running to high ground.”
Extra flights are being laid on at Bali and Lombok airports for tourists to get home as quickly as possible.