Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Indonesian island of Lombok

The tremor, which killed three people, struck a week after a more severe disturbance led to 17 losing their lives

People are seen next to the ambulance near the Golden Palace Hotel after an earthquake hit Lombok Island. Yayan Kopi / Reuters

A major earthquake has rocked the Indonesian island of Lombok killing three, a week after 17 people were killed on the holiday island.

The latest disturbance had a magnitude of 7.0, and struck 10km underground, the US Geological Survey said.

Officials told local media that at least three people were killed as the event unfolded.

Officials issued a tsunami warning, which was later withdrawn, and urged people to move away from the ocean.

"Please go to a place with higher ground, while remaining calm and not panicking," Dwikorita Karnawati, head of the agency for meteorology, climatology and geophysics, told local TV.

Read more: Trekkers trapped by Indonesian earthquake begin descent from volcano

Residents in Lombok's main city Mataram described a strong jolt that sent them running out of their homes.

"Everyone immediately ran out of their homes, everyone is panicking," Iman, a local resident in Mataram, told AFP.

Images from an airport in Bali show tiles falling from the ceiling.

The tremor came a week after a shallow 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the island, killing 17 and damaging hundreds of buildings.

The quake also triggered a landslide which briefly trapped trekkers on popular mountain hiking routes.