Key facts
- An earthquake in Indonesia killed at least 68 people and injured over 200.
- More than 4,500 homes were damaged, forcing approximately 19,000 people into temporary shelters.
- 122 health facilities, 252 schools, and 84 places of worship were also damaged.
- A 14-day state of emergency has been declared for the affected province.
- Military and police forces are distributing emergency aid, but logistical challenges persist.
- Two emergency field hospitals have been set up due to damage to local medical facilities.
Thousands of people in Indonesia's Flores island are awaiting aid two days after a powerful earthquake killed at least 68 people, injured over 200, and damaged thousands of homes. The disaster occurred just before the country's 81st Independence Day celebrations, with many residents mourning victims and military teams working to deliver essential supplies to inaccessible communities.
The Saturday morning earthquake caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and blocking roads. Residents like Rasyid Jafar, a clothing merchant in the heavily affected village of Reo, described their homes as "just rubble" and urgently called for food, medicine, and clean water.
During the Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto asked attendees to pray for those affected by disasters in Nusa Tenggara Oriental and other parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that over 4,500 homes were damaged, displacing around 19,000 people. Additionally, 122 health facilities, 252 schools, and 84 places of worship sustained damage.
A 14-day state of emergency was declared by the provincial governor on Sunday. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), triggering tsunami alerts that were later lifted. Authorities have recorded 1,576 aftershocks, with 54 perceptible to residents.
Many survivors are camping outdoors due to damaged homes and fear of further aftershocks, with some recalling the devastating 1992 earthquake and tsunami that killed approximately 2,500 people on Flores. Over 1,800 military and police personnel, supported by aircraft and vessels, are distributing over 100 metric tons of emergency aid, including food packages, medicines, and clothing. However, logistical challenges are slowing deliveries to some severely affected areas.
Two emergency field hospitals have been established in Ruteng, the most affected town, as local hospitals were damaged. Rescue teams are still searching for victims, though no residents have reported missing family members. Aid workers reached the small island of Palue late Sunday after a difficult journey, reporting one death, two serious injuries, and nearly 150 homes destroyed there.