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Flores quake toll rises
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia’s Flores island shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, killing at least 53 people and displacing around 5,000, as rescuers continued searching for survivors amid blocked roads and landslides.
“killing at least 53 fatalities”
Reuters said the quake was shallow, occurring about 15km below the surface, and that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 341 subsequent aftershocks.
In a separate tally, El Mundo reported that Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) raised the death toll to 51 and said more than 5,000 residents remained displaced on Sunday.
BBC Indonesia reported that the BNPB said tremors were felt as far west as Bima and that Manggarai province was among the most affected, with Abdul Muhari confirming 25 deaths recorded there and 20 fatalities in East Manggarai province.
The BBC also described how Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai was among the facilities damaged, with images showing operating theatre and clinic ceilings caved in and patients treated in tents.
Aftershocks, injuries, evacuations
As rescue teams worked to clear roads blocked by landslides, Al Jazeera said the earthquake killed at least 51 people and forced about 5,000 people to evacuate, with its epicentre about 68km north-northwest of the city of Ende on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus told a televised meeting that 36 people were seriously injured and 77 more suffered minor injuries, figures echoed by the BBC and the Irish Times.
Reuters reported that at a now-closed port in Maumere, residents said they were scared of aftershocks, and that the disaster agency said on Sunday nearly a thousand aftershocks had been recorded since the quake.
In Maumere, Reuters quoted Yuvienta Saen describing the moment she felt the quake during her morning prayer and saying, "He told me, you run, I'm handing my fate to God," while also adding there was a lack of clean water and blankets in the tent.
The BBC quoted hospital spokesperson Rista Mari saying, "We heard that medical assistance would be provided, but nothing has arrived yet," as the BNPB said meeting basic needs and providing logistics for evacuees had become a top priority.
Aid, satellite support, priorities
The European Union said it would support Indonesia’s earthquake relief efforts by providing satellite data and resources to help emergency teams identify the most affected areas, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing readiness to activate the Copernicus Earth observation service.
“activate the Copernicus Earth observation service”
The BBC reported that the BNPB dispatched tonnes of emergency supplies to Manggarai and said meeting basic needs and providing logistics for evacuees was one of the top priorities of the emergency response.
In East Nusa Tenggara, Reuters said the provincial government had declared an emergency, a move that allows authorities to mobilise resources and funding, while also reporting that power supply was nearly fully restored but authorities were still working on fixing distribution lines.
Al Jazeera reported that Lieutenant General Suharyanto said the earthquake destroyed at least 157 houses and damaged nearly 200 more, forcing about 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency into temporary shelters, and that three helicopters and a rescue vessel had been deployed.
With the scale of damage still being uncovered, the BBC said the ongoing advice from BNPB was for people to remain calm and stay away from coastal areas and structures showing signs of damage.
