Around 5,000 individuals have been relocated following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, resulting in the loss of at least 53 lives, road blockages, and landslides, as confirmed by authorities on Sunday. Reports indicate that over 130 individuals sustained injuries, many of whom suffered broken bones.
This earthquake on Saturday stands as the most fatal in Indonesia since a similar event in 2022 claimed hundreds of lives in West Java. The Sikka region witnessed more than 3,300 individuals self-evacuating or seeking refuge in a sports arena, as reported by the disaster mitigation agency BNPB.
In the aftermath of the disaster, numerous Sikka residents found themselves stranded outdoors near collapsed homes, seeking shelter under makeshift tarps. Meanwhile, medical assistance was provided in temporary tents outside a hospital in Maumere, a port town.
Simon Subandi, the deputy regent of Sikka, mentioned that nearly all residents were hesitant to remain indoors following the quake, opting to sleep on porches or makeshift outdoor shelters. To aid the affected region, over 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed, as announced by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Concerns about aftershocks loom large among residents, particularly in Maumere, where a port is now closed due to damages from the earthquake. The disaster agency reported nearly 1,000 aftershocks since the initial quake, prompting hundreds of locals to seek refuge in a designated sports stadium.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, focusing on clearing rubble in the worst-hit areas to locate any trapped individuals. While power restoration efforts are nearing completion, authorities are still working on repairing distribution lines. The East Nusa Tenggara government has declared an emergency for the province to facilitate resource mobilization and funding, according to BNPB statements.
Geological expert Dwikorita Karnawati highlighted the region’s earthquake vulnerability due to the “Flores back-arc thrust fault,” a significant system of thrust faults running west to east. The affected area previously experienced a devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, as reported by Indonesia’s geophysics agency.
Indonesia, home to 290 million people spread across numerous islands, is situated within the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a highly active seismic zone where tectonic plates converge, leading to frequent seismic activities and volcanic eruptions.