Indonesia accelerates rescue work for quake victims

A house collapsed during an earthquake on Lombok island on August 5 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) –  An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale hit Indonesia’s Lombok island on August 5.

Spokesman of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said as of August 6, the death toll had risen to 82 with hundreds injured. Most of the deaths were caused by collapsing houses.

Many people are missing in the ruins, with about 1,000 tourists stranded on the island.

The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has launched rescue and evacuation campaigns on three small islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno in northwest Lombok.

The quake caused 47 aftershocks in West Nusa Tenggara region at night. Power outages occurred due to the disaster, hindering the rescue work, head of the BNPB Willem Rampangilei said.

Two helicopters were dispatched to join the rescue and logistics work and supply necessities. The army also sent personnel to support search and rescue efforts and bring victims to safer places, along with providing them with basic needs, especially healthcare, medicine, shelter and communication devices.

The three schools which suffered most damage have had to close until further notice.-VNA