World

Lombok quake: Rescuers search collapsed mosque for survivors

August 7, 2018 4:10 pm

Rescue workers are searching the ruins of a mosque in Lombok, Indonesia, where it is feared people were trapped by Sunday’s deadly earthquake.

The 6.9 magnitude quake is now known to have killed nearly 100 people and left at least 20,000 people homeless.

The mosque is one of thousands of buildings in North Lombok that were damaged.

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Two people have already been rescued from the rubble, according to the national search and rescue agency.

The earthquake struck on Sunday amid evening prayers. One witness told news agency AFP there may have been as many as 50 people in Jabal Nur mosque in Lading-Lading village at the time.

“Our imam ran, so the others followed,” 53-year-old Kelana said.

At least three crushed bodies have already been retrieved from the rubble.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said many sandals were found in front of the mosque, raising fears that more victims could be found.