Three tourists killed in Indonesia quake

Three tourists were killed and dozens others injured on Monday after an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia's Lombok island, causing subsequent landslides.

The incident took place in Tiu Kelep waterfall in Senaru village near Mount Rinjani, reports Xinhua news agency.

Two victims were Malaysian nationals who were visiting the coutry along with 38 other travellers. The third victim was an Indonesian tourist.

The landslides trapped a total of 38 visitors, of which 35 were rescued. Twenty visitors were badly injured and dozens of others sustained minor wounds, a disaster management official said.

Some 32 buildings collapsed and 500 were affected with moderate damage. More than 80 people, 22 of them Malaysians, had to be evacuated from Mount Rinjani.

According to the US Geological Survey, the hypocenter of the earthquake was situated some 24 km deep and 4 km south east of Sembalun Bumbung village.

Mount Rinjani is said to be the second highest volcano in Indonesia, at 3,726 metres, and remains active.

--IANS

ksk/bc