The death toll from a 7-magnitude earthquake that recently struck Indonesia’s tourist island of Lombok on August 5 has risen to 91. (Photo: AFP)Hanoi (VNA) – The death toll from a 7-magnitude earthquake thatrecently struck Indonesia’s tourist island of Lombok on August 5 has risen to91, said the Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB).
The figure is expected to rise in upcoming days as hundreds of peopleare injured while thousands of buildings collapsed. Rescuers have yet to reachthe island’s northern part, which was hardest hit.
Spokesman of the BNPN Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said no foreign visitor waskilled in the quake. Three ships have been mobilised to evacuate about 1,000tourists from high-risk areas.
An operation is also underway to evacuate some tourists from threetropical islands of the Gili archipelago, a few kilometres off the northwestcoast of Lombok, which are particularly popular for backpackers and divers.
Nugroho said about 200 Indonesian and foreign tourists had leftGili, while 700 others are waiting for their turn.
According to search and rescue forces, one Indonesian tourist waskilled in Gili Meno island while some others were wounded. Several hotels weredamaged.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo instructed ministers, defence andpolice forces to increase disaster relief efforts.
A ship of Indonesia’s armed forces carrying relief goods includingmedical equipment, medicines and necessities is heading to Lombok island.
Head of Lombok district Najmul Akhyar said up to 80 percent of the areawas destroyed. Power outages occurred, hindering the rescuework. Threeschools which suffered the most damage have had to close until further notice.
The quake also affected Bali island, one of the most famoustourist destinations in Southeast Asia, killing one and damaging dozens of housesand shrines.-VNA
