Indonesia earthquake: 10 dead on tourist island Lombok

A powerful earthquake has struck a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, killing at least 10 people.

The 6.4 magnitude quake hit the central Indonesian island of Lombok just before 07:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday.

The island attracts tourists from around the world due to its beaches and hiking trails, and is located about 40km (25 miles) east of Bali.

Many buildings have been damaged and dozens of people have been injured by falling debris, officials say.

A Malaysian tourist who was on a hiking trip to Mount Rinjani is reportedly among those killed.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the earthquake was 50km (31 miles) northeast of the city of Mataram, in northern Lombok.

It was followed by more than 60 smaller earthquakes, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 5.7.

"Some 40 people are injured and dozens of houses were damaged," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country's disaster agency, said in a statement.

"We estimate the number will keep rising because we are not done collecting data," he added.

"The main focus now is evacuation and rescue. Some of the injured are still being treated at clinics."

He posted images showing collapsed buildings and streets littered with rubble
The quake felt so strong... tourists were panicked and frightened and escaped from hotels," Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, a citizen protection director at the foreign ministry, told BBC Indonesian.

One witness told AFP news agency about the chaos that followed the earthquake.

"The earthquake was very strong... and everybody in my house panicked, we all ran outside," he said. "All my neighbours also ran outside and the electricity was suddenly cut off."

History of deadly earthquakes
Are earthquake warnings effective?
Gravity signals show true size of quakes
Mount Rinjani National Park, a popular destination for trekkers, has been closed due to landslides.

Climber Khairul Azi said he and a group of hikers were stranded after the quake.

"We are unable to get out of the area because many roads have been cut off," he told the New Straits Times.

"The situation here is hectic and we're still trying to make contact with the other Malaysian climbers," he added.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.

More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level are part of the ring.

A magnitude 6.5 quake struck off the north-east coast of Sumatra island in 2016, killing dozens of people and displacing more than 40,000.

Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? If it is safe to do so email [email protected].

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Send pictures/video to [email protected]
Or Upload your pictures/video here
Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy
Or use the form below

Your contact details
Name
Your E-mail address (required)

Town & Country
Your telephone number
Comments (required)

If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist please leave a telephone number that we can contact you on. In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.

Terms and conditions

The BBC's Privacy Policy

Related Topics
IndonesiaEarthquakesBali
Share this story About sharing
Email
Facebook
Messenger
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
More on this story
History of deadly earthquakes
13 November 2017
How effective are earthquake early warning systems?
24 March 2018
Asia
Cambodia votes but main opposition absent
29 July 2018
From the section Asia
Full article Cambodia votes but main opposition absent
Powerful storm hits weather-ravaged Japan
29 July 2018
From the section Asia
Full article Powerful storm hits weather-ravaged Japan
Deadly Afghan attack targets midwives
28 July 2018
From the section Asia
Full article Deadly Afghan attack targets midwives
More Videos from the BBC
The metals recycled from cremated bodies
Laos dam collapse
Fire hits London's Blackwall Tunnel
'People like me are meant to be accepted'
The invisible woman
Cyclist falls into drawbridge gap
Recommended by Outbrain
Elsewhere on BBC
BBC News
Child slaves aged two discovered in Wales
BBC News
Actress died after battle with alcohol
BBC News
Body found in missing boy in sea search
Recommended by Outbrain
You Might Also Like
BBC Travel
The Turkish city that lives for breakfast
BBC Travel
The German city beloved by Chinese
BBC Culture
What is the world’s hardest singing style?
Top Stories
Deadly quake hits Indonesia tourist spot
A 6.4 magnitude quake has struck Lombok island, killing at least 10 people including one tourist.

17 minutes ago
Palestinian viral slap video teen freed
28 minutes ago
Qatar 2022 bid team accused of sabotage
8 hours ago
Features
'How I meditated away chronic pelvic pain'
VIDEO
Meet the 'stand-in mom' at LGBT weddings
Can post-Mugabe vote heal Zimbabwe?
These are the least popular emojis
BBC Culture: Nine films to watch in August
Migration to Europe in charts
Slavery memorial highlights Portugal's racism taboo
VIDEO
Black student aims to change Oxford