Death Toll in Lombok Quake Reaches 321; 270,000 People Remain Displaced

Lombok earthquake

Until Friday (10/8) or 5 days after an earthquake hit Lombok– 321 people were reportedly died and all of them have been verified, according to the data from the  National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB).

“Victims in North Lombok Regency are 273 people, West Lombok 26 people, East Lombok 11 people, Mataram City 7 people, Central Lombok 2 people, and Denpasar City 2 people,” said Head of BNPB Information and Public Relations Center Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, in Jakarta, Friday (10/8).

In the meantime, the number of displaced residents reached 270,168 people, spread at thousands of points. The BNPB also estimates that the number is expected to increase considering that not everyone has been recorded

In several places, Sutopo continued, there are still affected residents who reportedly have not received assistance, especially in remote districts such as Gangga, Kayangan, and Pemenang. To overcome this,, according to Sutopo, the aid distribution uses 3 helicopters from the BNPB and National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

From data received by the BNPB, there are 67,875 damaged houses, 468 damaged schools, 6 damaged bridges, 3 damaged hospitals, 10 damaged health centers, 15 damaged mosques, 50 damaged prayer rooms, and 20 damaged office units. And from the results of satellite imagery analysis, the most damage occurred in North Lombok Regency with nearly 75 percent of the buildings and housings damaged in the quake..

“This is due to the fact the North Lombok is the closest to the epicenter of the quake epicenter and experiencing shocks with intensity of VII MMI. Houses with sub-standard earthquake resistant structure will not be able to withstand shocks; so they collapsed, “ Sutopo added.

The BNPB estimates that the losses and damage caused by the quakes in West Nusa Tenggara and Bali are estimated to be more than IDR 2 trillion, which includes the housing sector, infrastructure, economy, social culture and cross-sector.

“A joint SAR team from Basarnas, Indonesia National Defense Forces (TNI), National Police, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and other volunteers, continued Sutopo, is still trying to evacuate the residents from the affected area, but the area is challenging and may endanger the officers,” Sutopo said.

According to Sutopo, assistances such as volunteers, logistics, and equipment continued to come and  hundreds of NGOs and community organizations have also established service posts including public kitchens. The assistances, he said, were then immediately distributed to evacuation centers involving sub-district and village government officials to distribute to the people.

To people who need further information, Sutopo said that BNPB has provided a Call Center of Lombok Island Emergency Response Post with phone numbers 0853 3863 9789 and 0859 6147 2837 and  the Call Center for BNPB Assistance is 0853 3365 6353.

As for the public in Jakarta area who want to donate aids, according to Sutopo, the aids can be channeled to the TNI Aid Post at Halim Perdanakusuma Jakarta Airport, Suma 3 VIP Room. The contact numbers are 0812 6790 682, 0812 3161 1998 and 0818 7264 089. The aid can also be channeled to humanitarian institutions.

“Assistance will be transported by TNI Hercules aircrafts to Lombok,” Sutopo concluded. (BNPB / ES PR) (STU/EP/Naster)