Indonesia: Lombok earthquakes leave at least 319 dead as of August 9 /update 9

Event

A recent series of earthquakes on the island of Lombok has left at least at least 319 people dead as of Thursday, August 9, with 1000 people seriously injured and 270,000 others displaced by the tremors. Notably, a 5.9-magnitude aftershock hit the island on Thursday; no tsunami warning was issued. Damages to infrastructure and roads have caused power outages in the north of the island and have complicated the provision of humanitarian aid. Thousands of tourists have evacuated Lombok in recent days amid concerns of further tremors striking the island.

The death toll may rise in the coming days as relief efforts continue. Additional aftershocks are possible on Lombok in the near-term.

Context

Lombok is still recovering from two earthquakes: a 6.4-magnitude earthquake on July 29 that killed 14 people, and a 6.9-magnitude quake on August 5 that killed at least 131 people.

Indonesia lies within the active seismic zone known as "the Pacific Ring of Fire."

Advice

Individuals present in the impacted region are advised to monitor the situation, be prepared for further aftershocks, and heed all instructions issued by local authorities. Individuals elsewhere in Indonesia are advised to defer nonessential travel to the affected areas until further notice.

During an earthquake, 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 do 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.