FG Condoles Indonesia Over Earthquake

Nigerian Government has sent her condolences to the Government of Indonesia over the earthquake on the Island of Lombok, near Loloan village on Sunday night, where at least 105 persons died.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, expressed the sympathy when the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Harry Purwanto, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, we expressed our sincere condolences to the government and people of Indonesia on the earthquake that occurred in that country.

“We remember your people in our thoughts and our prayers.

“We extend our sympathy in this moment of pains to the people and the government of Indonesia, we wish you strength and fortitude at this hour of pains,” he said.

Purwanto, in his response, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the minister in particular for identifying with his country at the moment of pains.

Newsmen report that a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck right along the coast of the Indonesian island of Lombok, near Loloan village Sunday night.

Apart from the lives lost, the earthquake also injured more than 236 others and destroyed thousands of homes.

People were said to be observing their evening prayers when the earthquake began.

Rescuers in Lombok were said to be still pulling people out alive from the rubble, two days after the earthquake.

The island is popular with tourists and now about 1,000 foreign visitors have been evacuated to nearby islands.