A 5.4 magnitude tectonic earthquake has jolted Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, and triggered a landslide at the Tiu Kelep Waterfall, North Lombok. Two Malaysian tourists have been reported as being killed in the landslide, while six are reported to still be missing. More than 30 foreign and domestic tourists were found with severe injuries.
According to a statement issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency on Sunday afternoon, the earthquake struck at about 2 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located approximately 20 kilometres north of the regency’s Selong city. While there were no tsunami warnings issued, several houses were found to have been destroyed by the quake.
“There were about 40 tourists affected by the landslide around the area. Most of the victims were Malaysians and domestic tourists,” the administrative spokesman stated.
The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency and the North Lombok Health Agency has managed to rescue 19 people and two bodies of the deceased have been recovered so far. Between July and August last year, more than 500 people were killed in a series of disastrous earthquakes which struck the island.
See: Please Help Lombok
Source: The Jakarta Post
Image: The Jakarta Post