On 5 August 2018, a 7.0 magnitude (Richter scale) earthquake hit Lombok and the island has experienced a series of aftershocks since then. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Sembalun Subdistrict in far North Lombok. The area is mountainous and subject to landslides, with many remote villages, making emergency aid access difficult at first. The ‘Gili Islands’ – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – also suffered extensive damage and around 4,600 residents and tourists holidaying on the islands were evacuated for their safety after the earthquake. Most of the victims came from North Lombok and died as a result of collapsing buildings. No tourists or foreign citizens have died.
Over the past week, emergency response teams, military and police have established emergency posts in the north. The NTB government and its agencies are working closely with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to provide aid to its citizens. It must be stressed that the majority of the damage is located in North Lombok and that other areas of the island remain largely unaffected. Tourism areas such as Kuta and the south coast and the southwest of Lombok are unaffected and are operating normally.
We welcome tourists to Lombok to keep our people employed and support our recovery from this natural disaster.
We would like to thank all the citizens, both local and foreign, who have provided emergency assistance and supplies to the victims in the interim. It is this spirit of community that will make Lombok stronger as we move forward.
Scuba Froggy in Kuta works as normal. Some offices located in hotels in Senggigi area and Gili Trawangan are temporarily closed. The office in the centre of Senggigi will be re-opened from 14th August.
If you need any assistance in your Lombok trip re-arrangements, don’t hesitate to contact us!
