A fresh earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked Indonesia's Lombok island on Thursday, August 9, pushing the death toll up to 319. The latest quake comes at a time when the island has already been witnessing strong aftershocks post the August 5 calamity.
The quake on August 9 is said to have sent residents of the island screaming on the streets as they ran out of their houses and shelters. People are now reportedly traumatised and panicking over the devastation that the tremors have left behind.
"Our latest update is that 319 people died," the Agence Frence-Presse quoted Indonesia's chief security minister Wiranto as saying. He also said that search and rescue operations were ongoing but things weren't as smooth and they would like as the aftershocks added to the woes.
The series of earthquakes in Lombok island has reduced thousands of houses to rubble and most of the deaths were reportedly caused by collapsing buildings. Over 1,400 people have been injured and the quake has also displaced more than 1,50,000.
Those without homes now have been accommodated in shelters and tents and authorities have also built makeshift tents with medical facilities to treat the injured.
Speaking of the terrifying earthquake, a witness, identified as Sri Laksmi, told AFP: "We were stuck in the traffic while delivering aid, suddenly it felt like our car was hit from behind, it was so strong.
"People in the street began to panic and got out of their cars, they ran in different directions in the middle of the traffic."
Amid this, it is also feared that when the two mosques collapsed in Lombok it could have been filled with worshippers. Heavy machinery has now been deployed to look through and remove the debri and ensure that people aren't trapped.
While authorities have said that every possible effort is being made to help survivors, there are many at shelter homes who have complained of being ignored and not given any help. "I'm still in pain from giving birth," new mother Rusnah told AFP "I need diapers, I need milk."
Lombok also experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on July 29 that killed over a dozen people. Apart from the casualties, about 800 hikers were trapped on Mount Rinjani volcano in Indonesia and were evacuated about two days later. About 560 people -- hikers and their guides – were trapped after the quake triggered massive landslides and dislodged rocks in the region.
The 6.4 magnitude quake brought with it several aftershocks, after which tonnes of rocks and mud rained down the mountain blocking all the hiking routes. The hikers, said to be from several countries such as France, the United States, Thailand, Germany and the Netherlands among others, could be rescued only after their guides found an alternate route to come down the mountain.
