Quake victims ‘buried alive’ as death toll rises

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The number of people killed in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in Indonesia has risen to 131.

Nearly 1,500 people have been injured, with 156,000 displaced after the tremors caused extensive damage to their homes.

LOMBOK, INDONESIA - AUGUST 07: Indonesian police and soldiers evacuate a victim at the broken hospital following earthquake in Tanjung on August 7, 2018 in Lombok Island, Indonesia. Nearly 100 people have been confirmed dead after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit the Indonesian island, Lombok, and neighbouring Bali which left at least 20,000 people homeless.
Image: 1,500 were injured by the quake, which happened on Sunday

The 6.7-magnitude quake struck Lombok, an island neighbouring the popular tourist destination of Bali, on Sunday.

Six days earlier, a 6.4-magnitude quake killed 16 people and weakened many structures.

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Video: Drone footage reveals extent of quake damage

Military planes have since been scrambled to bring food, medicine, tents and water to island residents in desperate need of aid.

Zulas Triani, a teacher who is sharing a tent with 30 others, said they had received only a basket with three noodle packets, five eggs and a small amount of water.

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Video: Worshippers escape mosque before collapse

She said: “My house was flattened. We are all frustrated to live like this – in a tent without certainty.

“Where should we go if we have no house anymore, nowhere to live?

“I don’t know how to rebuild on my own. We’re all relying on the government to help. I do hope the government can help.”

Residents rest in a temporary shelter in Gunung Sari, west Lombok on August 8, 2018, three days after an earthquake struck the area. - More than 70,000 people left homeless by a deadly earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok are sleeping in makeshift shelters and lack food, medicine and clean water, officials said on August 8. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP) (Photo credit should read ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: Many residents have been forced to live in temporary tents

The national disaster agency’s spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, warned the number of people killed will likely continue to rise as emergency services reach rural parts of the island.

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“We don’t know for sure how many people are alive under the rubble,” said Mr Nugroho.

“There are reports… that there are people buried alive, it is a critical time for immediate evacuation.”

From – SkyNews

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