CHILMARK-BASED disaster response charity Team Rubicon UK have sent a team to Lombok, Indonesia after a devastating earthquake hit the island. 

At least 91 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit the island of Lombok, Indonesia on Sunday (August 5).

Team Rubicon UK’s (TRUK) operations hub began monitoring the incident before making the decision to send a team to Lombok who will assess the situation and offer assistance to local authorities and residents.

This disaster – also felt in neighbouring provinces Bali and Surabaya– followed a 6.4 magnitude quake in the same area on July 29.

Some 10,000 people have been evacuated from the island and power and telecommunications networks are down in the worst-hit areas.

Richard Sharp, TRUK CEO, said: “With the scale of the disaster unfolding by the hour, and the numbers of effected and displaced now well over 20,000, we have deployed a reconnaissance team to Lombok to assess whether a larger response will be required.

"Our priority is to give the Indonesian authorities and organisations the space they need to coordinate this deadly disaster, but by having a small group in country, Team Rubicon UK will be well positioned to call forward teams and equipment to assist where needed.”