RUTENG, Indonesia — At least 53 people were killed, and 135 injured after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores region on Saturday, while about 5,000 residents were evacuated as rescuers worked through landslides, collapsed structures and blocked roads to reach affected communities.
The earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, according to the Associated Press. The strong shaking damaged or destroyed at least 1,350 homes and affected schools, health facilities and other infrastructure across several districts.
Rescue operations remained difficult on Sunday as landslides and debris blocked roads, particularly in Manggarai, East Manggarai and Nagekeo. More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to assist with search and rescue, clear roads and support emergency operations, Reuters reported.
The national disaster mitigation agency reported nearly 1,000 aftershocks following the main earthquake, increasing fears among residents and complicating rescue efforts. Many survivors have remained outdoors or in temporary shelters because of concerns that damaged buildings could collapse during further shaking.
More than 3,300 evacuees in Sikka were sheltering in sports arenas and makeshift tents, according to Reuters. Electricity and communications were disrupted in some areas, although power supplies have been largely restored while crews continue repairing damaged distribution lines.
A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake but was later lifted after authorities determined that there was no continuing major tsunami threat. The shallow depth and offshore location of the earthquake nevertheless prompted authorities to closely monitor coastal areas as aftershocks continued.
The government of East Nusa Tenggara has declared a state of emergency to speed up the mobilization of resources and the delivery of assistance to affected communities, Reuters reported.
The disaster has also raised memories of Flores’ devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1992, which killed thousands of people. Residents interviewed in the aftermath of Saturday’s earthquake described fears of returning to damaged homes while aftershocks continued.
Indonesia is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet. The country has experienced numerous destructive earthquakes and tsunamis, including the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami.
Search and rescue teams continued to assess damage and look for possible survivors on Sunday, particularly in communities that remained difficult to reach because of landslides and damaged roads. Authorities are also providing emergency shelter and assistance to thousands of people displaced by the disaster.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
