Lombok’s Latest Earthquake: A Fresh Shock for a Fragile Island
Just two weeks after a deadly quake on August 5, a new tremor rattled the Indonesian island of Lombok. The 6.3‑magnitude shake struck East Lombok at a shallow depth of seven kilometres, causing panic, landslides and a flurry of evacuations, but fortunately no casualties were reported this time.
What Happened?
- Magnitude: 6.3
- Depth: 7 km (4 miles)
- Epicentre: East Lombok
- Since the July 29 and August 5 quakes, Lombok has endured a string of aftershocks, making this latest event the third major quake in less than a month.
Aftershocks and Landslides
The tremor triggered landslides in a national park on Mount Rinjani, where thousands of hikers had been briefly trapped during the July late‑quakes. The park, now closed, saw several houses and other structures collapse in the Sembalun district, on the mountain’s slopes.
“We’re seeing buildings that used to house trekkers suddenly give way,” said Agung Pramuja, a local disaster mitigation spokesperson. “The exact number of damaged houses is still being checked.”
Community Reactions
“I was driving to deliver aid to evacuees when suddenly the electricity pole was swaying. I realised it was an earthquake.”
— Agus Salim, East Lombok resident
“Everybody ran outside their house. They’re all gathering in an open field, still terrified.”
— Endri Susanto, children’s rights activist in Mataram
While there were no immediate deaths or serious injuries, the emotional toll was clear. Many residents still feel the lingering trauma from the August 5 quake that left over 480 people dead and tens of thousands injured.
The Bigger Picture
Lombok, dubbed the “Island of a Thousand Mosques,” is a less‑visited cousin of Bali, yet it is part of Indonesia’s booming tourism economy. The government has earmarked it as one of President Jokowi’s “10 new Balis,” aiming to boost pristine halal tourism.
But with the island sitting on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” seismic activity is a constant concern. In 2004 a 9.3‑magnitude undersea quake off Sumatra sparked a tsunami that claimed 220,000 lives across the Indian Ocean.
The August 5 quake, which devastated tens of thousands of homes, businesses and mosques, displaced more than 350,000 people. Many now sleep in tents or tarpaulins near their ruined houses or in makeshift evacuation shelters. The economic cost of the damage is estimated at a staggering five trillion rupiah (S$470 million).
As Lombok reels from these successive shocks, relief agencies grapple with damaged roads—especially in the mountainous north—hindering aid delivery. Yet, amid the resilience and recovery efforts, the people of Lombok continue to endure, hoping the next tremor passes with a few broken windows instead of broken lives.
