Thousands of individuals in Flores, Indonesia, were awaiting assistance as of Monday following a severe earthquake that resulted in at least 68 fatalities, over 200 injuries, and significant destruction to numerous structures. Many residents in East Nusa Tenggara province’s Flores island were grieving for the victims and anticipating aid for communities still isolated by the calamity.
President Prabowo Subianto, during Indonesia’s Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta, urged participants to pray for those impacted by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara and other regions while leading a nationwide moment of silence to honor the nation’s heroes of independence. The earthquake, with a depth of 10 kilometers, struck East Nusa Tenggara province early Saturday morning, causing damage to over 1,300 homes, displacing about 5,000 individuals to temporary shelters, and leaving 213 people injured, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
Authorities reported 1,576 aftershocks as of Monday, with only a fraction being perceptible to residents. The provincial governor declared a state of emergency lasting 14 days on Sunday.
In Flores, thousands of people sought refuge under makeshift tents outside collapsed homes due to the fear of additional aftershocks. Extensive destruction was observed across the island, including blocked roads, massive boulders dislodged by landslides, and severely damaged or destroyed residences. The distribution of aid to heavily impacted communities faced logistical obstacles, slowing down deliveries.
Nearly 1,500 military and police personnel, supported by 10 aircraft, were deployed to provide 275 tonnes of aid in the disaster zone. Emergency field hospitals were established in Ruteng to treat earthquake victims after local medical facilities sustained damage. Rescue operations were ongoing, with no reports of missing family members from residents.
Aid workers managed to reach Palue Island, near the earthquake’s epicenter, after arduous travel through landslide-affected areas. The journey was perilous due to steep roads and blocked routes. Indonesia, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is prone to seismic activities and volcanic eruptions.
The nation has a history of devastating natural disasters, with a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1992 claiming approximately 2,500 lives in Flores. The 2004 Sumatra earthquake and subsequent tsunami, as well as the Sulawesi earthquake-triggered tsunami in 2018, resulted in significant casualties across several countries.