Indonesia: Earthquake kills at least ten in Lombok July 29 /update 2

Event

Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency has confirmed that at least ten people have been killed and over 40 injured on the island of Lombok after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the area on Sunday, July 29. According to officials, East Lombok regency was hit the hardest and further damage was reported in North Lombok regency. The quake also caused a landslide at Mount Rinjani. Significant material damage has been reported across the island along with power outages. Recovery efforts are ongoing as of Sunday afternoon (local time) and the death toll may rise as information is collected from other parts of Lombok. Aftershocks are possible in the coming hours and days in the area.

Context

The earthquake struck 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of Lelongken at approximately 06:47 on July 29. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock occurred shortly after the initial quake approximately 49 km (30 mi) northeast of the city of Mataram.

Indonesia lies within the active seismic zone known as "the Pacific Ring of Fire." In December 2016, a powerful and shallow earthquake hit Western Aceh province killing 97 people and injuring 500 others.

Advice

Individuals present in the impacted region are advised to monitor the situation, be prepared for further aftershocks, and heed any potential instructions issued by local authorities.

In the event of earthquakes, individuals are advised to protect themselves as much as possible from falling debris if indoors (e.g. under a table), to move away from windows and exterior walls, and to not attempt to leave the building unless there is an immediate danger. If outdoors, move away from any tall structures, such as buildings, utility wires, and streetlights.