Lombok EARTHQUAKE: Indonesia island hit by massive 6.9 magnitude quake just 5km deep
A MASSIVE earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 has rocked the Lombok region – the latest in a series of tremors which have claimed the lives of almost 500 people in recent weeks.
By CIARAN MCGRATH
Express.co.uk
Sun, Aug 19, 2018
The United States Geological Survey reported that the latest quake hit north-north-west of the battered Indonesian island, at a depth of just one mile.
The USGS initially said the quake measured 7.2, but subsequently revised this to 6.9.
There was no immediate tsunami alert from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
In a tweet shortly earlier, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management put the quake’s magnitude at 7.0.
He added: “The earthquake was felt hard in East Lombok. Earthquakes were also felt in Bali, Sumbawa, East Java and Makassar.
“Data collection on earthquake impacts is still being carried out.”
He subsequently added: “Aftershocks continued in Lombok. PLN electricity goes out all over Lombok.
“Dark conditions. East Lombok, North Lombok and West Sumbawa felt a strong shock with the intensity of the earthquake felt by the VI MMI (strong).
“We are still coordinating with the officers there.
Sutopo added: “Pitch black conditions. East Lombok, Lombok, West Sumbawa and the North felt the shocks of earthquake intensity was felt hard with MMI VI (strong)..”
Sutopo also shared a video of bewildered-looking tourists outside a hotel in the east of the Island.
The tremor follows another one earlier today measuring 6.3 which happened near the town of Belanting.
East Lombok resident Agus Salim said of the earlier one: “I was driving to deliver aid to evacuees when suddenly the electricity pole was swaying. I realised it was an earthquake.
“People started to scream and cry. They all ran to the street.”
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