Rescue teams in Indonesia have been searching for survivors following a powerful earthquake that struck the island of Flores on Saturday, leaving at least 47 people dead.
The earthquake
The magnitude 7.7 quake struck shortly before 05:00 local time (22:00 GMT Friday), with a depth of 15km, according to Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency. More than 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings were severely damaged by the quake and 341 aftershocks, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear.
A second earthquake, of magnitude 6.9, struck the other end of Indonesia later the same day, a reminder of the country's position along the seismically active "Ring of Fire."
Casualties and worst-affected areas
Tremors were reportedly felt as far west as Bima Regency and City, though Manggarai province is among the worst affected. Preliminary data recorded 24 deaths in Manggarai, 17 in East Manggarai province, three in Sikka province, and at least one each in Ngada, Ende and West Manggarai provinces. At least two people were seriously injured and 11 slightly injured.
Emergency response
More than 5,000 people remain in evacuation shelters, with 10,500 aid packages sent to affected areas so far. Authorities said meeting evacuees' basic needs and coordinating logistics remains a top priority of the emergency response.
Assessing the full extent of the destruction is expected to take time, given the region's remote and mountainous terrain. Early reports indicate more than 150 houses were severely damaged, along with dozens of schools, several healthcare facilities, places of worship, offices and other public buildings.
Footage from the port in Maumere, the largest town on Flores, showed large sections of concrete breaking off the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry, with some thrown into the sea after a gangway collapsed.
Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara province said some victims were killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble. Other residents, including Arnold Welianto of Talibura village in Sikka, described being shaken awake. "I was startled awake and immediately went to my child's room," he said, adding that many people had fled into the hills after the sea appeared to recede.
Tsunami warning and access issues
A tsunami warning was initially issued, prompting roughly 2,000 people to self-evacuate, before being lifted around three hours later once no significant sea-level rise was detected. Landslides blocked access to some villages, though rescue teams worked throughout the day to free people trapped under rubble. A temporary medical tent was set up outside a hospital in Ruteng to treat those affected.
Authorities continue to advise residents to remain calm, stay away from coastal areas and avoid structures showing signs of damage. Indonesia lies at the meeting point of three major tectonic plates and is prone to frequent earthquake and volcanic activity.
Source: BBC
