A 6.9 magnitude earthquake has hit Indonesia, killing at least 98 people, injuring 269 and leaving 20,000 others reportedly homeless. Roughly 2,700 tourists have been evacuated to the mainland.
The earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Lombok, a popular tourist destination. The earthquake was powerful enough to damage buildings 93 miles away in Denpasar on the island of Bali. More than half the homes in some districts had been destroyed, according to Indonesian authorities. One Indonesian official told the BBC that 80 percent of the island had been impacted.
Roads and bridges have been damaged, making it difficult to access some hard hit areas.
Lombok was still recovering from a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on July 29. That earlier earthquake killed 17 and injured more than 160. The epicenters of both earthquakes were only a few miles apart.
There have reportedly been 130 aftershocks since Sunday's earthquake. Lombok lies on the Ring of Fire, a belt surrounding the Pacific Ocean that is especially prone to earthquakes and volcanoes.
A British tourist on the small Gili islands off the coast of Lombok described the panic that ensued to The Guardian: “The most terrifying part was the tsunami warning that followed. All the locals were frantically running and screaming, putting on lifejackets.” The tsunami warning was eventually lifted.
The Indonesian military has deployed troops and medical personnel to help deal with this crisis.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had visited Indonesia over the weekend. On Sunday evening, he tweeted that his "deepest sympathies to all affected by the Aug 5 earthquake in Indonesia’s NTB province." He added that the U.S. was "closely monitoring the aftermath."
This morning, I departed #Indonesia after having met with @jokowi @kemlu_r - I’d like to express my deepest sympathies to all affected by the Aug 5 earthquake in Indonesia’s NTB province, again impacting Lombok & neighboring Bali. We are closely monitoring the aftermath. pic.twitter.com/Y1IsacZQwj
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 5, 2018
