UN chief ‘saddened’ by latest devastating earthquake to hit Indonesian island of Lombok

Indonesian Red Cross

The Indonesian Red Cross evacuates children from the island of Lombok following the 5th August earthquake.

Following the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Indonesia's East Lombok on Sunday, the United Nations Secretary-General said he was “saddened by the devastating loss of life, injuries and damage caused”, in a statement issued on Monday.

According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority, at least 91 people have lost their lives, with more than 200 injured and thousands displaced. In addition, thousands of houses have been damaged, and according to news reports around 10,000 have been evacuated from the island.

This latest quake came just a week after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in the same area, which left more than a dozen people dead, over 150 people injured, and thousands displaced.

“The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Indonesia, and wishes the injured a quick recovery,” said the statement issued by his Spokesman, who added that “the United Nations stands ready to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts, if required”.

According to a statement by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), “the earthquake caused widespread panic. Many people ran from their homes and have stayed by the roadsides overnight. Hundreds of people were treated for injuries, some of them in the open air to avoid the risk of further injury”.

Search and rescue activities are ongoing: “As the earthquake happened in the evening and cut power and communications in the area, a full picture of people’s needs is still emerging,” said IFRC. “Some 132 aftershocks have been recorded in the area.”

According to reports, the death toll is expected to rise, with one official telling reporters that 80 per cent of north Lombok has suffered damage.

SOURCE: UN News