In eastern Indonesia, rescue teams have recovered six additional bodies following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, bringing the total number of fatalities to 53. Thousands of people, fearing aftershocks, have spent the night outdoors. The quake, which struck the predominantly Catholic island of Flores, triggered landslides affecting six regencies.
Rescue efforts are concentrated in three particularly hard-hit regencies: Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo. According to Fathur Rahman, head of the search-and-rescue office in Maumere, the response has included clearing landslides and reopening roads, although communication and power challenges remain.
Authorities report over 900 homes destroyed and 450 damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province. Approximately 5,000 residents are in temporary shelters. In the Flores region, at least 241 homes sustained damage, according to disaster prevention chief Abdul Muhari.
The earthquake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, shortly before 6 a.m. Residents fled in panic as tsunami warnings were issued and then lifted. Since the quake, 995 aftershocks have been recorded, with 46 being felt. There are 135 reported injuries.
Many residents near Labuan Bajo, close to Komodo National Park, stayed outdoors due to the aftershocks. Anastasia Imad, a farmer, described the terrifying quake shaking her home to the brink of collapse, fearing further aftershocks.
The quake caused landslides blocking parts of the Trans-Flores Highway, a key route across the island. Relief workers have distributed necessities such as food, drinking water, and blankets, while setting up emergency shelters. Restoring electricity and communications remains a significant challenge.
Indonesia is prone to seismic activities due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Past disasters include a 1992 quake and tsunami on Flores that killed 2,500, a 2018 quake in Sulawesi that took over 4,400 lives, and the 2004 Sumatra quake that impacted a dozen countries and killed around 230,000 people.
Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini and Edna Tarigan also contributed to the report, emphasizing the importance of a free press for maintaining a healthy democracy.