Earthquake in Eastern Indonesia Raises Death Toll to 53
Rescue teams in eastern Indonesia have recovered six additional bodies following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The death toll now stands at 53, with thousands of displaced individuals forced to spend the night outdoors, fearing aftershocks.
Rescuers continue to search for victims buried under landslides across six regencies on Flores, an island predominantly inhabited by Catholics within the largely Muslim nation. Efforts focus on the severely impacted areas of Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo.
“We have cleared most landslides and reopened roads to previously isolated villages, although communication disruptions and power outages continue to hamper search efforts,” stated Fathur Rahman, head of the search-and-rescue office in Maumere.
Authorities reported that over 900 homes were destroyed and an additional 450 damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province, displacing approximately 5,000 people into temporary shelters. In the Flores region alone, 241 homes sustained damage.
The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) early Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Panic ensued as tsunami warnings were initially issued but later withdrawn.
Authorities cataloged at least 995 aftershocks, with 46 felt by residents. Injuries stand at 135. Many residents in Labuan Bajo, the entrance to Komodo National Park, chose to sleep outside due to aftershock concerns.
“The shaking was terrifying, so intense that my house nearly collapsed,” shared Anastasia Imad, a farmer staying in a temporary tent beside her damaged home.
Various sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, a 700-kilometer (435-mile) road, were blocked by landslides. Relief workers distributed essentials such as rice, meals, water, blankets, and medicine, and set up emergency shelters for the displaced.
Authorities highlight the ongoing challenges of restoring electricity and communications and providing aid to remote areas affected by landslides.
Indonesia, an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Flores has been the site of some of the country’s most deadly disasters. A 1992 earthquake and tsunami resulted in 2,500 fatalities. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake caused a tsunami on Sulawesi, claiming over 4,400 lives. The 2004 Sumatra quake and tsunami claimed approximately 230,000 lives across multiple countries.