Around 5,000 individuals have been relocated following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, resulting in a death toll of at least 53, obstructing roads, and triggering landslides, as stated by authorities on Sunday. Over 130 people sustained injuries, many of them with fractures.
The earthquake on Saturday was the most fatal in the country since a quake in 2022 claimed the lives of hundreds in West Java. According to the disaster mitigation agency BNPB, more than 3,300 individuals in the Sikka region either self-evacuated or sought refuge in a sports complex.
In Sikka, some residents found themselves stranded outside collapsed residences, seeking shelter under makeshift tarps, while others received medical attention in temporary tents outside a hospital in Maumere. Abdul Mutas, 63, shared his experience, stating they were forced to flee as the tides rose due to the quake.
Simon Subandi, the deputy regent of Sikka, reported that nearly all residents opted to sleep outdoors on porches or under tents. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya mentioned that over 3,500 military and police personnel have been dispatched to the affected area.
Residents in Maumere expressed fear of aftershocks, with the disaster agency recording close to 1,000 aftershocks post-quake. In a nearby sports stadium designated as an evacuation center, hundreds sought refuge. As the sun set, residents queued for warm beverages, while mothers ingeniously crafted makeshift cradles for their infants using tent frames.
Margaretha Movaldes Da Maga Bapa, head of the region’s disaster mitigation agency, highlighted that the recent quake reignited memories of the 1992 disaster for residents. Search efforts are ongoing in the worst-hit areas of Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo to locate any individuals possibly trapped under debris.
Despite nearly full power restoration, efforts to repair distribution lines are still underway. The local government declared an emergency for the province, allowing for the mobilization of resources and funding. Geology expert Dwikorita Karnawati emphasized the earthquake risk in the region due to the Flores back-arc thrust fault system.
The area affected by the quake had previously experienced a devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992. Indonesia, home to a population of 290 million, spans the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone prone to earthquakes and volcanic activities.