Indonesia: At least five killed after quakes shake Lombok again

At least five people were killed and dozens others wounded as multiple earthquakes again rocked Lombok island in Indonesia on August 19, reported Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson of the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB).

Scene taken after a August 9 quake hit the Lombok island, Indonesia

The first quake, measuring 6.5 magnitudes, struck 6km northeast of Sembalunlawang in Lombok at the depth of 7.9 km around 11:10am (local time), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It triggered landslides and left people fleeing from their homes

It was followed nearly 12 hours later by a late evening 6.9-magnitude quake and at least five more significant aftershocks.

Many houses, buildings and roads were severely damaged while power cut in many areas on the island, the BNPB spokesperson said.

Local authorities are continuing to collect reports on deaths and injuries.

The latest quakes amplified local trauma resulted from the quakes hitting the resort island on July 27 and August 5, claiming nearly 500 lives and injuring 1,300 more. Nearly 353,000 local inhabitants lost their houses to the quakes.

Indonesia has suffered about 348 million USD in damage due to the two quakes.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the "Ring of Fire," the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Basin. In December 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people of different nationalities.

VNA