5.6-magnitude quake jolts Indonesia

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook West Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia on Thursday, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The epicenter of the quake which struck at 06.04 p.m. was located 9.27 degrees southern latitude and 116.37 degree eastern longitude or some 60 km southeast of Central Lombok district at a depth of 77 km, the agency quoted by ANTARA News said. The quake caused many people in the West Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Mataram who had just broken the fast to rush outdoors. Amrillah, a resident of Praya town in Central Lombok district, said he strongly felt the quake. “I, along with a number of residents were at mosque after performing magrib (evening) prayers. But because the quake lasted for a few seconds it did not worry me very much,” he said. Meanwhile, Syamsul Rizal, a resident of Selong town in East Lombok district said he was shocked after he strongly felt the temblor. “Many residents rushed outdoors for fear that their house would collapse due to the quake. Luckily, the quake lasted for a few seconds,” he said.