75 Percent Residential Areas Damaged by Lombok Earthquake

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  North Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) was left in ruins following the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck the region on Sunday, August 5. 

According to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman, nearly 75 percent of residential areas in Lombok were left in ruins. 

“Based on the satellite imagery analysis, massive structural damages are still happening in the North Lombok District. The data is still being compiled,” said Sutopo on Friday, August 10. 

Read: Lombok Quake Not National Disaster: Govt

Sutopo explained that the areas in North Lombok were heavily affected by the earthquake  because they were closer to the quake’s epicenter. The quake measured level VII on the Modified Mercalli Scale (MMI), which means houses and buildings that are not built by those standards will not be able to withstand the powerful earthquake. 

Read: Lombok Earthquake; Death Toll Increases

Temporary data revealed that the earthquake damaged 67,875 houses, 468 schools, six bridges, three hospitals, 10 community health centers (Puskesmas), 15 mosques, 50 smaller Islamic praying centers, and 20 office buildings. Finanial losses are estimated to reach more than Rp2 trillion.

The hypocenter of the earthquake that hit Lombok on Sunday, August 5, came from the depth of 15 kilometers. Meanwhile, its epicenter was 18 kilometers northwest of East Lombok. The quake was followed by multiple aftershocks.

ANTARA