At least 38 individuals lost their lives following a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and numerous aftershocks that hit off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Saturday. Rescue teams swiftly mobilized to reach areas near the epicenter as the earthquake unfolded.
An initial tsunami alert was rescinded approximately three hours after the seismic event. Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), disclosed in a televised briefing that the current toll stood at 38 fatalities, with two individuals severely injured and 11 sustaining minor injuries. He also mentioned that around 2,000 people had sought refuge in safer locations.
Rescuers in Maumere, a key port town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, discovered 20 deceased individuals, six injured, and two trapped under debris earlier. Suharyanto highlighted that there are still residents trapped in various structures amidst reports of landslides obstructing several roads in the affected regions.
Efforts to reach Nagekeo, the area closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, have been impeded by communication disruptions, as per Fathur, a local official. Landslides have blocked access by road, while alternative approaches via ferry were being attempted. Approximately 2,000 residents in Nagekeo have been evacuated, with damage reported to numerous buildings and infrastructure.
Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara Province confirmed in a press briefing that at least five individuals perished due to collapsing structures while they were asleep. Distressing scenes of buildings crumbling and people fleeing were captured in a video posted on Facebook, validated by Reuters.
Residents in various regions, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, experienced intense tremors lasting about a minute. The seismic activity was felt across these areas, prompting residents to evacuate their homes for safety.
Indonesia, situated on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a volatile seismic zone where tectonic plates converge, is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.