Indonesian Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 259 And Still Rising

The Lombok earthquake has turned out to be a deadly one; the death toll, as it stands, is already at 259. Sources say that it may still rise further than that.

The region, according to BBC UK, has already experienced about 350 aftershocks. But Thursday's tremor turned out to be the deadliest. This had a measurement of magnitude 5.9 or 6.2 on the monitors and was strong enough to bring down buildings. These buildings had people in them, most of which are trapped in the rubble through which rescue workers are trying to sift through.

Officials commented on the death toll, saying that it is a grim prospect; it will still keep rising, depending on whether people are trapped alive under the rubble or workers chance upon the bodies of those who were crushed by the rubble. About 319 people were already unearthed and had died. The media had a number higher than that, at around 347.

Stuff NZ, meanwhile, exposes what people felt during the tremors. A couple from Hawke's Bay experienced strong shocks enough for them to topple over. They-along with 150,000 other people had been evacuated from the place. It was unfortunate, considering that the couple was actually on a vacation on the scenic island.

They, along with a host of other people, saw how the quake brought down buildings, as well as how people were dead on the streets and the rubble. Resorts and hotels were locked up and the place had no food, no power, and it was growing dangerous-boatloads of people had to be taken off the island by boat.

The confusion was brought after the "exceptionally destructive" earthquake didn't just bring down buildings-it brought down entire communities. Despite that, the Islanders managed to dodge a bullet as no tsunami warning went up. The shocks were so strong, people were sent into the streets in panic, expecting the worst.

From the point of view of the Hawke's Bay couple, the scene was chaotic. Tickets off the island went double the prize. When they arrived in Bali, they couldn't believe how they escaped the earthquake, which is not as much as what could be said for the others who had already died or still trapped under the rubble.