Key facts
- A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Flores island in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province on August 15.
- The earthquake caused widespread damage, destroying hundreds of homes and public facilities.
- As of August 16, 53 people had died and 135 were injured, with the death toll later rising to 68.
- Approximately 12,800 people were unable to return to their homes and were in temporary shelters.
- Two weeks after the quake, residents in remote villages are facing hunger and drought.
- The Super El Nino phenomenon is expected to worsen the crisis.
Two weeks after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Flores island in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province on August 15, residents in remote villages are facing severe shortages of food and water. The tremors have continued, with 180,000 people remaining in makeshift shelters. The crisis is expected to be exacerbated by the Super El Nino phenomenon.
The earthquake caused widespread destruction, damaging or destroying hundreds of homes and public facilities, including schools and health centers. Initially, 53 people were reported dead and 135 injured, with the death toll later rising to 68. Thousands of residents fled their homes, with many seeking refuge in temporary shelters due to the compromised state of their houses and fear of aftershocks.
In the immediate aftermath, survivors expressed urgent needs for essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and diapers. Rescue efforts were mobilized, involving helicopters, planes, and naval vessels, and aid packages were dispatched. A 14-day state of emergency was declared for the province.
Despite these efforts, residents in isolated communities reported a significant lag in aid delivery, with some expressing frustration over the lack of tents, medicine, food, and drinking water. The disaster has revived painful memories of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Flores in 1992, killing approximately 2,500 people.
Indonesia, located in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," experiences frequent seismic activity. Authorities have urged vigilance due to ongoing aftershocks and advised people not to return to damaged buildings.