TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The geological condition of North and East Lombok District contributed to the damaging effects of the earthquake that shook Lombok on Sunday, July 29. Dozens of people perished and left thousands of houses damaged.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced on Monday that the death toll from the Lombok earthquake rose to 16 people, left 355 injured, and damaged 1,453 houses. This has caused 5,141 people in the East and North Lombok District evacuated.
According to Daryono, head of earthquake and tsunami early warning at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), explained why the magnitude 6.4 earthquake had devastating effects.
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“The earthquake zone in Lombok, specifically in the Northern and Eastern coastline are composed of soft earth materials such as sand and alluvium,” he said on Monday.
He explained that the mushy characteristics of the earth in the region further resonates the earthquake influx and amplified its effects. Not mentioning the building structures at the area that are not built to withstand an earthquake.
“[The buildings] were easily damaged and collapsed after being rocked by the earthquake,” said Daryono.
Daryono’s explanation corresponds to the press statement by the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) explaining that the alluvium content and volcanic sediment further amplified the effects of the earthquake. PVMBG had previously classified the area in the intermediary class.
ANWAR SISWADI
