Local administration able to handle impact of quake in NTB - senior minister

A strong earthquake hit Bima and Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, early Monday, killing at least three persons, injuring tens of residents, and destroying hundreds of houses.

The earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale was felt by the Dompu residents at between the fourth and fifth MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity), at. 00.02.20 am local time, according to information from the meteorological and geophysics office in Mataram.

The epicenter of the tectonic earthquake was located at 8.27 degrees southern latitude and 118.35 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 50 km northwest of Raba, Bima.

Following the earthquake, Dompu and Bima was shaken by several aftershocks with magnitudes varying between 4.9 and 6 on the Richter scale.