United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Lombok hit by powerful aftershock days after devastating earthquake
The Indonesian island of Lombok has been hit by a strong tremor just three days after a major earthquake that killed more than 130 people.
The latest tremor on the north-west coast, which had a magnitude of 5.9, brought down some buildings.
It was also felt on the nearby island of Bali, causing tourists to flee from their hotel rooms in the southern resort of Seminyak.
The Foreign Office had updated its travel advice for Indonesia yesterday, prior to the latest tremor, urging people to avoid all but essential travel to the Gili islands off the northwest coast of Lombok following Sunday’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
"There is a risk of aftershocks, which could cause further damage to buildings and pose risks to safety," it said. "In the event of serious injury, access to immediate medical assistance on the [Gili] islands is extremely limited."
It is not advising against travel to Lombok, but tourists began to leave the island after the earthquake on Sunday.
Rescue workers are still digging through rubble and trying to get aid to survivors of the earthquake, which the Red Cross has described as ‘exceptionally destructive’. Some villages have been completely raised to the ground, it said.
The government says more than 1,400 people were injured and more than 156,000 displaced.
Related News Stories:
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
BA pilot dies during layover
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Protestors now targeting Amsterdam cruise calls