The massive quake struck at 6.47am on Sunday (11.47pm BST) at a depth of 7km, about 31 miles north-west of Mataram in the north of Lombok.
Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said more than 80 tremors followed, the largest of which measured 5.7 magnitude.
Hundreds of people of people have been injured and thousands of homes damaged, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency.
He tweeted: “People are gathering on the streets and empty fields to avoid collapsing buildings.
“The main focus now is evacuation and rescue. Some of the injured are still being treated at clinics.”
No tsunami alert has been issued, but BMKG said the earthquake was felt nearby in neighbouring Bali which sits 25 miles west of Lombok.
Where is Lombok?
Holidaymakers’ paradise Lombok sits in the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara, sandwiched between Bali on the west and Sumbawa on the east.
Boasting sandy-white beaches and clear aqua seas, the tropical isle is popular with scuba divers as well as surfers due to its challenging waves.
Lombok’s most famous attraction is Mount Rinjani, the second-highest volcano in Indonesia stretching 3,726 metres above sea level.
Mount Rinjani National Park, a luscious forest land with mountain trails and hot springs, was closed temporarily closed.
The number of tourists impacted is not yet known but a Malaysian visitor on a hiking trip to Mount Rinjani is confirmed among the dead.
Is Lombok in the Ring of Fire?
Lombok is part of an Indonesian archipelago in south-east Asia, situated between the Indian and Pacific ocean.
The island is part of the notorious Ring of Fire, a major area in the Pacific Ocean responsible for the large majority of the world’s earthquakes.
Devastating earthquakes are frequent in Indonesia with more than 150 magnitudes over 7 recorded between 1901 and 2017.
Many of the 228,000 estimated people killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean Boxing Day tsunami were from Indonesia.
The Foreign Office has issued advice on what to do should an earthquake hit Indonesia.
A statement said: “If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, you should follow the instructions of local authorities, bearing in mind that a tsunami could arrive within minutes.
“The Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning Centre issues tsunami warnings when a potential tsunami with significant impact is imminent or expected.”