Evacuation launched from popular tourist destination, Gili islands following 7.0 Lombok earthquake

The powerful 7.0 earthquake that hit the island of Lombok on Sunday evening caused at least 82 deaths and forced many people to flee fearing further aftershocks and a possible tsunami. The tsunami fears were fortunately unrealized, but it still must have been a very scary night for the people stuck on the Gili islands, the three small but popular tourist islands just off the northeast coast of Lombok.

Authorities sent a joint search and rescue team to evacuate tourists and locals from Gili Air, Gili Meno and the largest and most popular, Gili Trawangan, early this morning. The latest reports say they have already evacuated several dozen people, but there are many more that still need to make it off the islands after a long night of uncertainty.

Extremely big earthquake in Bali, we on Gili T and we have been evacuated to the highest point of the island. All power lost and everyone screaming. I hope everyone is safe. #earthquake

— SEBASTIAAN (@sebastiaanevans) August 5, 2018

Currently sat at the top of hill on Gili T after huge earth quake, hopefully tsunami threat passes 😬 #indonesiaearthquake #gilit

— Saffron Amis (@saffronamis) August 5, 2018

“Yesterday the tourists were still unable to be evacuated. There are maybe around 1,000 (tourists) there,” West Lombok Military District Commander Joko Rahmanto told told CNN Indonesia.

A post shared by Daily Lombok Sumbawa (@netizenntb) on Aug 5, 2018 at 8:55pm PDT

Joko said forces from Lombok, Bali and Surabaya were joining in the evacuation effort. There have not yet been any reports of deaths on the islands, which are located not far from the epicenter of the quake that was about 27 kilometers from northeastern Lombok.

A post shared by FIRST MEDIA PARTNER IN GIANYAR (@infogianyar_) on Aug 5, 2018 at 6:31pm PDT

A post shared by PT. BERITA BALI MEDIA (@beritabalicom) on Aug 5, 2018 at 6:41pm PDT

A post shared by Hiekkakikkarelife (@moottoripuuma) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:07pm PDT

1.000 orang turis asing dan domestik dievakuasi dari Gili Trawangan, Gili Air dan Gili Meno di Lombok Utara. Tidak korban jiwa dari wisatawan disana. Evakuasi menggunakan 3 kapal. pic.twitter.com/HJvVcRB1rB

— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) August 6, 2018

Thousands of homes on Lombok and the neighboring island of Bali were damaged by the powerful quake and Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency is still evacuating people.