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Quake Shakes Indonesia Tourist Island of Lombok

Quake Shakes Indonesia Tourist Island of Lombok
Quake Shakes Indonesia Tourist Island of Lombok

A powerful earthquake has struck a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, killing at least 14 people. The 6.4 magnitude quake hit the central island of Lombok just before 7 a.m. 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 40 km east of Bali, BBC reported.

More than 160 people were injured and thousands of homes were damaged, officials said.

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

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of the earthquake was 50 km 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.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country’s disaster agency, said most casualties occurred when victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concrete.

“The main focus now is evacuation and rescue. Some of the injured are still being treated at clinics,” he said.

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.

 

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