Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Oct 13 (Antara) - The Lembata district government in East Nusa Tenggara Province has issued an emergency response statement following an increase in the number of refugees in the area after the earthquake.

"Until Thursday, the number of refugees due to the earthquake in Lembata had reached 2,172; hence, we issued an emergency response statement," Lembata District Head Eliazer Yentji Sunur remarked when contacted from Kupang on Friday.

An earthquake, measuring 4.9 on the Richter Scale, jolted Lembata District and the surrounding areas in East Nusa Tenggara Province on Wednesday at 7:10 a.m. local time.

The quake`s epicenter was located at 8.23 degrees southern latitude and 123.37 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers (km), some 29 km northwest of Lewoleba, Lembata, Hasanudin, head of the Kupang meteorology, geophysics, and climatology agency, noted.

The quake, rated as an MMI III-IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, was felt by the residents of Lembata.

Some 40 houses in Lembata were damaged after a series of tremors jolted the area in the past two days, an official noted.

Some 11 houses suffered serious damage, while 29 others incurred minor damage, Lembata Vice District Head Thomas Ola Langoday stated on Wednesday.

In addition, a 23-kilometer road was also buried in stones, disrupting access to the earthquake-hit villages, he noted.

The 4.9-magnitude earthquake was followed by aftershocks of small magnitude. Tens of buildings were damaged, and a road was buried stones.

A total of 24 villages around Mount Ile Lewotolok have been affected by the earthquake, he added.

The earthquake forced 1,128 people to evacuate, with 748 of them being provided shelter at the official residence of the old district head, 224 taking refuge at their relatives` houses, and 161 taking shelter at the office of the Ilepa sub-district head.