Lombok quake leaves 156,000 homeless

Spreading the word: A child holding up a placard highlighting their plight during an earthquake evacuation drill in Medan, Sumatra. — AFP

Tanjung: The death toll from a powerful earthquake on the Indon­esian island of Lombok rose above 130 as authorities appealed for food, clean water and medical help for some 156,000 people forced from their homes.

Many frightened, displaced villagers were staying under tents or tarpaulins dotted along roads or in parched rice fields, and makeshift medical facilities had been set up to treat the injured.