Shallow M6.3 aftershock hits Lombok, 2 weeks after devastating M7.0 killed more than 460, Indonesia
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the BMKG as M6.3 hit the Indonesian island of Lombok at 04:10 UTC (12:10 local time) on August 19, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 14 km (8.7 miles). USGS is also reporting M6.3 and a depth of 7.9 km (4.9 miles). This earthquake can have a medium humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability. It hit the same region where a devastating M7.0 killed more than 460 people just 14 days ago.
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 6 km (3.7 miles) WSW of Belanting, 21.8 km (13.5 miles) NNW of Labuan Lombok (population 10 000), 53.9 km (33.5 miles) NE of Praya (population 35 183), 58.2 km (36.1 miles) ENE of Mataram (population 318 674) and 70.9 km (44.1 miles) NE of Lembar (population 10 000), Indonesia.
There are 3 630 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles) and 64 000 within 10 km.
Some 74 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 735 000 strong, 2 282 000 moderate and 3 580 000 weak.
Disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 1 person was injured, 2 people fainted and some houses in East Lombok suffered damage.
Numerous landslides were reported across the island.
Dampak gempa susulan Lombok (6.5 SR) 19/8/2018: 1 luka ringan, 2 orang pingsan dan beberapa rumah mengalami kerusakan di Lombok Timur. Aparat Babinsa TNI terus melakukan pendataan dan membantu masyarakat korban gempa. Daerah yang terdampak parah ada di Lombok Timur. pic.twitter.com/VUU31zBQng
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) August 19, 2018
Batu-batu berjatuhan menuruni lereng perbukitan dan Gunung Rinjani akibat guncangan gempa 6,5 SR di Kecamatan Sembalun Kab. Lombok Timur. Tidak ada korban jiwa. Beberapa rumah rusak. pic.twitter.com/hhqkVyRsK3
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) August 19, 2018
The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, BMKG reported.
Other than that, the activity on the island is 'normal and Mount Rinjani, where hundreds of trekkers were stranded after the July 28 quake [M6.4], was closed and there were no tourists there,' Sutopo said. 17 people were killed and more than 160 injured during the July 28th M6.4 earthquake. Thousands of homes were damaged.
The August 5th M7.0 earthquake killed more than 460 people and injured at least 7 773. More than 350 000 fled their homes and are currently taking shelter in government-provided tents or makeshift structures in the open field.
A total of 71 962 houses were damaged as well as 671 educational facilities and 52 health infrastructures, officials said August 16.
Since August 5, BMKG monitoring network registered 33 felt aftershocks, including today's M6.3.
Featured image credit: USGS, EMSC
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