The death toll from an earthquake that struck Lombok Island of Indonesia on August 5 has exceeded 430. (Source: AP) Jakarta (VNA) – The death toll from an earthquake that struck Lombok Island of Indonesia on August 5 has exceeded 430, while economic losses are estimated at over 340 million USD as of August 13.
Spokesman of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that the 6.9-magnitude quake killed 436 people, injured over 1,300 others, and flattened thousands of houses.
It has displaced about 350,000 people.
The toughest hit area of Lombok has been within the north, where 374 individuals died and more than 137,000 have been compelled from their houses.
Most of the displaced are sleeping below tents or tarpaulins close to their ruined houses or in evacuation shelters, whereas makeshift medical facilities have been set up to treat the injured.
Damaged roads are hindering access to isolated mountainous areas, Nugroho said, adding that three helicopters were deployed to distribute aid.
The quake happened only one week after a 6.4-magnitude quake rocked the island, leaving 17 dead.
Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismic activity hotspot.
It is frequently hit by earthquakes, most of them harmless. However, the region remains acutely alert to tremors that might trigger tsunamis.-VNA
VNA
