Quake swarm jolts Indonesia

Photograph: AP JAKARTA — At least 12 people were killed and 25 others injured after multiple strong earthquakes struck Indonesian islands of Lombok and Sumbawa as the region was trying to recover from a temblor earlier this month that killed hundreds of people.

Ten of the 12 died as a result of the magnitude 6.9 quake that occurred at 10:56 p.m.

Sunday at a depth of about 20 kilometers, centered on the northeastern part of the island.

The two other victims perished when a magnitude 6.3 quake hit Lombok at 12:10 p.m. at a depth of 7.9 km.

Almost 2,000 houses were also damaged or destroyed.

Efforts to assess the situation in East Lombok have met difficulties because communications with the area were cut off and some roads were damaged by the quakes, a National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman said. Kyodo News