At least 47 individuals lost their lives following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and multiple aftershocks that hit eastern Indonesia on Saturday, according to the latest update from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Roughly 2,000 people have sought refuge in safer locations.
Rescue teams are yet to access Nagekeo, the area nearest to the quake’s epicenter, due to road blockages from landslides and communication disruptions. A tsunami alert was rescinded approximately three hours post-quake.
Describing the seismic event, Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura, shared, “The quake was massive; the shock was so strong. There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.”
In Maumere, a port town, rescue workers discovered 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals trapped beneath debris, as confirmed by Fathur Rahman, the head of the city’s rescue agency. Maumere is the primary town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia.
Suharyanto, the BNPB chief, mentioned that inhabitants remain trapped in various buildings in the affected zones, with reports of landslides obstructing multiple roads.
Efforts to reach Nagekeo have been hampered by landslides blocking road access, while an alternative team is endeavoring to reach the area by ferry. Around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo have evacuated, with reports of structural damage to residences, storage facilities, and government establishments, as per the BNPB.
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, disclosed that at least five individuals perished from collapsing structures while they were asleep.
Initial data from the BNPB indicated significant damage to 157 homes, moderate damage to 41 residences, and light damage to 148 structures. Additionally, 87 schools, 18 healthcare facilities, five places of worship, and six office buildings suffered harm, alongside other infrastructure.
Videos on social media showed parts of buildings crumbling, with people fleeing in panic. Siti Sulfia Bira, a resident near the port in Maumere, mentioned seeking higher ground during the tremors and expressed concern about returning home due to the unstable situation.
The seismic tremors were felt strongly across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, with residents reporting approximately one minute of shaking. Indonesia lies on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a highly active seismic region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.