Search and rescue operations are ongoing on Lombok, Indonesia, after successive earthquakes of increasing magnitude strike within seven days. The twin earthquakes have left more than 460 dead, hundreds injured, and thousands displaced.
The first earthquake struck on July 29 in the vicinity of Mataram City, leaving 17 people dead, 365 injured, and almost 9,000 displaced. A week later on August 5, with national emergency management agencies and the military still responding, another earthquake struck in the same vicinity. This quake was much larger, measuring 7.0 magnitude and the official death toll currently stands at 105 dead, 236 injured, and thousands more displaced – some in evacuation shelters but many more living out in the open.
Two More Earthquakes Hit Indonesian Island, Killing at Least 12
HONG KONG – The Indonesian island of Lombok was reeling on Monday from two earthquakes that killed at least 12 people a day earlier, just two weeks after a separate earthquake devastated the island and killed at least 460 people.
The Indonesian national disaster management agency (BNPB) and the Indonesia military are responding and as yet there has been no request for international assistance from the Indonesian government. The BNPB have outlined that the current priority needs are for food, water and shelter items.
Robin Lim, founder of Bumi Sehat Foundation, that is based in Bali on the island next to Lombok, has reported that search and rescue operations are ongoing, that displaced families are mostly living out in the open, and that there is a high degree of chaos as tourists try to flee Lombok and the Gili islands by air and by boat.
Direct Relief is making an immediate emergency grant of $5,000 to the Bumi Sehat Foundation to enable their ongoing response and support to earthquake victims.
Support has also been offered to regional partner the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) and through the AHA Centre to the BNPB, as well as to the Muhammadiyah Foundation, Disaster Management Centre.
Updates frm the AHA Centre’s In-Country Liaison Team (ICLT) in #Lombok. The impact of the earthquake is devastating as seen on the pictures, taken in Pamenang, North Lombok. Our appreciation goes to the tireless first responders on the ground. #1asean1response #gempalombok pic.twitter.com/2PyNjqJvO1
— AHA Centre (@AHACentre) August 7, 2018
Direct Relief will continue to closely coordinate with the AHA Centre and other local partners responding to this disaster on the ground as the situation develops.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on August 20, 2018.
