Key facts
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 47 people.
- Over 100 people were injured and thousands displaced.
- More than 900 homes were destroyed and nearly 450 damaged.
- At least 167 public facilities, including schools and health centers, were damaged.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing, focusing on collapsed buildings and landslide debris.
Rescue crews are digging through collapsed buildings and landslide debris in eastern Indonesia following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the island of Flores. The quake, which occurred north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, has killed at least 47 people, injured more than 100, and displaced thousands. Tremors were felt across much of the island and in neighboring regions.
The disaster agency reported that the earthquake destroyed over 900 homes and damaged nearly 450 more, forcing approximately 5,000 people into temporary shelters. Thousands more spent the night outdoors due to fear of aftershocks. Additionally, at least 167 public facilities, including schools, health centers, and churches, sustained damage. Relief efforts are underway, with aid being distributed, but challenges remain in restoring power and communications, especially to remote villages isolated by landslides.
The quake also impacted Labuan Bajo, a gateway to Komodo National Park. Landslides have blocked parts of the Trans-Flores Highway, a major road across the island. Residents described the intense shaking and fear of aftershocks causing further damage to their homes.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Pacific “ring of fire”. Flores has a history of devastating seismic events, including a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1992 that killed about 2,500 people on the island.