Thousands of individuals remained in need of assistance on Flores Island in Indonesia, following a strong earthquake that claimed the lives of at least 68 people, injured over 200, and caused extensive damage to numerous structures. Residents in East Nusa Tenggara province, particularly on Flores Island, spent the day mourning the victims while awaiting aid in areas still inaccessible due to the earthquake’s impact.
The earthquake resulted in significant destruction, including collapsed buildings on cars, shattered homes, and blocked roads with debris like trees and boulders. Rasyid Jafar, a local clothing trader in the most affected village of Reo, described the devastation, stating, “My house is now just rubble. We urgently require food, medicine, and clean water.”
During Indonesia’s Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto called for prayers for the affected individuals in East Nusa Tenggara and across the nation, observing a moment of silence to honor the country’s independence heroes. The quake, which struck East Nusa Tenggara province early Saturday at a depth of 10 kilometers, damaged over 4,500 homes, displaced about 19,000 people into temporary shelters, and left 213 individuals injured, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The disaster also impacted 122 health facilities, 252 schools, and 84 places of worship.
Authorities reported 1,576 aftershocks as of Monday, with around 50 of them felt by the residents. A state of emergency spanning 14 days was declared by the province’s governor on Sunday. Aid efforts were hampered by logistical challenges, delaying deliveries to severely affected communities.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, thousands of people in Flores sought refuge outside damaged homes under tarpaulin tents, fearing additional aftershocks. The island displayed widespread devastation, with obstructed roads, displaced boulders from landslides, and severely damaged or destroyed residences. Military and police personnel, along with aircraft support, were deployed to distribute essential aid to the region.
Emergency field hospitals were established in Ruteng to cater to injured individuals after local medical facilities sustained damage. Despite ongoing search operations for potential victims, no missing persons have been reported by residents. Indonesia, known for its seismic and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has a history of devastating natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis.
A team of aid workers successfully reached Palue Island, near the quake’s epicenter, after a challenging journey through landslide-affected terrain. Numerous residents on the island required immediate assistance after being isolated for days. Past seismic events in Indonesia, particularly the 1992 earthquake and tsunami in Flores, have underscored the region’s vulnerability to such disasters.