North Lombok Quake; Bali, NTB Airports Suffer Minor Damage

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in North Lombok destructed the plasterboard of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. However, the airport operations remained normal.

“Recovery teams keep monitor damages in the domestic and international terminal of the airport,” said state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I (AP I) president director Faik Fahmi via a phone call, Sunday, August 5.

Faik stated his staffers were currently reviewing the damages. In general, he added, all airport operations run in normal.

“The situation in baggage claim at international arrival is normal, the terminal is safe," Faik said.

Read also: North Lombok Quake Claims 82 Lives

AP I’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communication, Awaluddin, also mentioned the operational services in Lombok Praya Airport and I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport returned to normal in the wake of the tremor at 18:46 local times.

Awaluddin mentioned the air facilities were not damaged, including the runway, taxiway, and apron. Only several facilities in the terminal suffered a minor damage.

Awaluddin said the electricity went blackout at Lombok Praya Airport at 20:00 local times. The airport employee and passengers in the air facility and terminal were evacuated to a safer place outside the terminal. However, passengers resumed entering the terminal at 20:30 pm.

Read also: BMKG Records 73 Aftershocks After Magnitude 7 Quake in Lombok

The airport personnel currently maintained the security and safety of passengers by conducting an inspection and cleaning the affected areas despite the condition backed to normal.

“AP I apologizes for the inconvenience due to the cleaning process at the affected areas,” Awaluddin said.

As the report suggests earlier, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck North Lombok on Sunday evening, August 5. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued a tsunami early warning and revoked it on the same day at 09:25 local times.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO