Thousands of individuals in Flores, Indonesia, were still awaiting assistance on Monday following a severe earthquake that resulted in a minimum of 68 fatalities, over 200 injuries, and extensive destruction of numerous residences and structures. Residents in East Nusa Tenggara province’s Flores island spent the day grieving for the victims and anticipating aid for communities that remained isolated due to the impact of the quake.
The earthquake caused significant devastation, including collapsed buildings on vehicles, shattered homes, and obstructed roads with trees and boulders. Rasyid Jafar, a clothing vendor in Reo village, expressed the urgent need for food, medicine, and clean water as his house lay in ruins.
President Prabowo Subianto, during Indonesia’s Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta, urged participants to pray for those affected by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara and across the nation. The quake, which struck with a depth of 10 kilometers in East Nusa Tenggara province early on Saturday, damaged over 4,500 homes, displaced 19,000 individuals into temporary shelters, and left 213 people injured, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Additionally, the disaster impacted 122 health facilities, 252 schools, and 84 places of worship.
With 1,576 aftershocks recorded by authorities until Monday, approximately 50 of them were felt by residents. The province’s governor declared a 14-day state of emergency on Sunday to address the situation.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, thousands of people in Flores sought refuge outside damaged homes, sleeping in tarpaulin tents due to the risk of further aftershocks. The region witnessed widespread destruction, including fallen trees blocking roads, homes in ruins, and boulders displaced by landslides.
Nearly 1,500 military and police personnel were dispatched to the disaster zone, assisted by 10 aircraft distributing 275 tons of aid. Abdul Muhari, BNPB’s deputy chief, highlighted logistical challenges that hindered aid delivery to severely affected communities. Emergency field hospitals were established in Ruteng to cater to quake victims after local medical facilities were damaged.
Rescue operations continued in the affected areas, with authorities reaching remote communities like Palue Island, near the quake’s epicenter, after navigating challenging terrains obstructed by landslides. Indonesia, known for its susceptibility to earthquakes and volcanic activities due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has a history of devastating seismic events.
The earthquake’s impact in Indonesia serves as a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, with past events like the 1992 Flores quake and the 2004 Sumatra tsunami causing significant loss of life.