Three Australian mates were enjoying a steak at the Palate Café & Restaurant in Central Lombok last night when a devastating magnitude-7 Earthquake hit the holiday Island.

Businessman Michael Grossman from the coastal town of Torquay in Victoria Australia, described the sensation like he was surfing on a rubber band.

The three men remained calm when the quake began, Senior Constable Mark Jarman a Surfer from Victor Harbor in South Australia, checked his phone seeking information from an App called Earthquake, he was trying to ascertain what they were dealing with.

The information they were searching for was whether a Tsunami warning had been issued.

“That 13 minutes seemed like hours, it was total mayhem, I felt as though I was watching a movie as the scene unfolded before my eyes”, Michael said.

“The Earth started to shake, it was like surfing on land or riding a rubber band. The locals started to panic and run onto the street after the Earthquake didn’t stop, I knew we were dealing with something serious”.

Rather than evacuate, the three men made a decision to remain so they could help out by keeping people calm.

Thousands of tourists and locals were running onto the streets in panic, we felt it was necessary to do what we could the men explained.

“It was horrific witnessing what seemed like thousands of people, both locals and tourists in shock. People were crying and searching for loved ones, it was totally surreal”, Michael said.

Finally after 13 long minutes my phone flashed the information we were seeking Mark said,

“No Tsunami Warning Issued”.

In true blue Aussie style Tony Coad also from Torquay declared,

“Okay then let’s have another Bintang, no need to evacuate to the hills”

 

Sharon Karyasa © 2018

follow me on  Facebook

follow me on Instagram

follow me on Twitter

click here for your copy of Scarlett Voices in the Shadows