A natural disaster like an earthquake destroys houses, disturbs all means of commutation and leaves behind a trail of death. The death toll in the quake in Indonesia has gone beyond 350 and could rise. The Red Cross has confirmed the evacuation of all the tourists who were on the Gili Islands. They had come from different parts of the world to enjoy the white sandy beaches and clear waters and have been caught unawares.

The epicenter of the quake on Lombok Island is near the tourist spot. CNN reports that the areas worst hit are in the northern parts of Lombok.

Aid is trickling in, but the roads have been destroyed, infrastructure is in shambles, and the food supply is running out. In some places, like Kayangan, the conditions are miserable, with children and the elderly waiting for aid to reach their area.

Indonesia needs humanitarian aid

When a catastrophe like an earthquake strikes any region, life is thrown out of gear and those who are affected are traumatized. They need humanitarian aid in the form of the basic necessities, like food, shelter, and medicines. However, due to damaged roads, many areas have become inaccessible. This, in turn, is leading to delayed movement of essential supplies. A large number of people have already died and the state-run Antara news agency has said that according to government estimates, thousands of people require assistance in northern Lombok.

The region has been devastated with most of the buildings reduced to rubble.

Red Cross representative Husni Husni has indicated that “a lot of people are displaced, and many have migrated to the hilly and mountainous areas because of fear of a tsunami." In one of the hospitals, one ambulance out of seven is out of action because of fuel shortage.

Incidentally, suicide bombers had targeted Christians in Indonesia, but the quake is a more serious matter.

Situation in Indonesia is grim

The Guardian reports that Lombok has been hit by a second quake. The latest one struck on Thursday (August 9) in the afternoon and the country’s meteorology agency has identified the epicenter to be at a depth of 12 kilometers.

It was reportedly measured at a 6.2 in strength. There were 355 aftershocks and this quake in Indonesia was the biggest. The previous one, of Sunday (August 5), has displaced more than 154,000 people. The death toll is still not known because rescue operations are continuing. Another earthquake hit Indonesia in 2015.

With no roofs above their heads, people are forced to seek shelter in makeshift tents. The area is in a zone known as the “Ring of Fire” and is prone to high volcanic activity and earthquakes. Locals are aware of the dangers but when a quake does strike, it leaves the survivors helpless.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED