Aussies urged not to travel to Lombok as quake death toll hits 347

Indonesian search and rescue personnel work on a collapsed mosque in Pemenang, North Lombok on August 6, 2018, the day after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the area. - More than 1,000 tourists were being evacuated from Indonesia's tiny Gili islands on August 6 after a powerful quake struck neighbouring Lombok, killing 91 people and injuring hundreds. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)        (Photo credit should read ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

The death toll of a massive earthquake that hit Lombok on Sunday night could be as high as 347, and Facebook has been accused of making light of the situation.

The magnitude 7 quake left tens of thousands of people homeless and many tourists stranded at airports as they scramble to leave Indonesia.

The ABC reports the national disaster agency has put the death toll at 131, but the government and military are reporting significantly higher numbers ranging from 226 to 381.

DFAT is advising Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Lombok, including the Gili Islands.

The most recent advice on the Smartraveller website advises travellers to: “Reconsider your need to travel to Lombok, including the Gili Islands, following the powerful earthquake of 5 August 2018.”

“The earthquake caused widespread damage to infrastructure and/or loss of life in North, West, Central, and East Lombok and the Gili Islands.”

According to the Smartraveller website, essential services are disrupted, medical facilities are under strain and there is risk of more aftershocks.

“Tourists are currently being evacuated from affected areas in north-east and west Lombok, and the Gili Islands. Many tourist facilities, including hotels and restaurants, are damaged or not operating,” said Smartraveller.

“Indonesian authorities are focussed on immediate relief efforts in what has been a serious natural disaster.”

In other earthquake news, Facebook is under fire for automatically decorating users posts about the deadly quakes with balloons and confetti.

The social media site has misinterpreted the meaning of the Indonesian word ‘selamat’, which means both ‘congratulations’ and ‘safe’. Many Indonesians have been using the word for its latter meaning in posts about the deadly earthquake.

“The feature (automatic animations for ‘congratulations’ in posts) is widely available on Facebook globally,” a spokeswoman for Facebook said in a statement.

“However we regret that it appeared in this unfortunate context and have since turned off the feature locally.”

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]