A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck East Lombok, Indonesia on Sunday July 29th, followed by a second 7.0 earthquake one week later on Sunday, August 5th in Northern Lombok. Besides the hundreds of related aftershocks, a third earthquake followed with a magnitude 5.9 August 9th, this time centred Northeast of Mataram City, creating panic and hindering rescue efforts.

Over 300 have died, and 270,168 displaced people are in need of food, water, shelter, and health assistance. Damage is widespread with at least 64,534 houses damaged as well as 458 schools, along with extensive damage to roads and three bridges.

Mona Saroinsong – who served with World Renew’s Indonesia Tsunami Response and subsequent Yogyakarta and Padang earthquakes, as well as in the Philippines in response to the Super Typhoon – is travelling to Indonesia now. She has already been in touch with leaders in the remote village of Bayan (100-150 households) and identified that 100% of the houses that have been destroyed. She has not learned of any casualties in this village. What is certain is that people are in need of shelter, food, and electricity. Fortunately the village has access to fresh water.

Temporary shelter (tarps) are needed as the rainy season is due at the end of September. Food stocks have been destroyed or damaged, leaving people hungry. Thankfully, emergency food items can be procured from neighboring Bali and transported by boat. Clothes and kitchen utensils are not as necessary as some are being pulled from the rubble.

Since the third earthquake of magnitude 5.9 centered in Bayan yesterday, communication with the village is disrupted. As a result World Renew is unable to learn more about their current circumstances. Pray that destruction from the third earthquake has not caused even greater devastation.

Mona Saroinsong has been in touch with Yayasan Bumi Tangguh, a Christian NGO; they will go to the island today to assess the situation. She will join them next week Monday or Tuesday as flights become available. Please pray for her safety.

“The needs will be greater than what World Renew can address, but we can bring hope by helping even a few,” says Grace Wiebe, World Renew International Disaster Response Senior Project Manager. She is in touch with other Integral Alliance members such as ZOA to try to work out some strategic ways of working together.

Join us as we work together with others in extending Christ’s compassion.