Indonesia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to 38 as Rescue Teams Battle Landslides, Aftershocks
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday morning, killing at least 38 people, injuring dozens more, and forcing thousands to flee their homes. The death toll has been climbing steadily as rescue teams reach affected areas, with officials warning that the number could rise further as teams access more remote communities. The earthquake struck at 4:58 AM local time at a shallow depth of 15 kilometers, making it particularly destructive and capable of generating significant ground shaking.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto confirmed at a news conference that 38 people have been confirmed dead, with two seriously injured, 11 sustaining minor injuries, and approximately 2,000 people evacuating on their own. The governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, reported that at least five people died from collapsing rubble while they slept. The earthquake has caused widespread destruction across the island, with preliminary reports indicating 54 houses have been severely damaged, along with five healthcare facilities, three places of worship, six government buildings, an educational institution, and a warehouse. The hardest-hit areas include Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai provinces.
Rescue efforts have been severely complicated by landslides that cut off several roads leading to the hardest-hit areas. Teams have yet to reach Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicentre, where communications signals have been affected and damage has been reported to houses, warehouses, and government facilities. Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere rescue agency. Attempts to reach Nagekeo by car were blocked by landslides, while another team attempted to go by ferry. About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo have evacuated, and authorities also reported traffic congestion and power outages affecting parts of the regency.
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Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency initially issued a tsunami warning, urging residents along the northern coast of Flores to evacuate immediately to higher ground. Tsunami waves of less than 1 metre were recorded in several areas before the warning was lifted about three hours after the quake. “Remain calm, avoid unverified information and stay away from buildings that are cracked or damaged by the earthquake,” said BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Director Wijayanto.
Residents described scenes of terror as the ground shook violently in the early morning hours. Yulian Juita Ekalia, 37, a university lecturer in Ruteng city, told AFP: “I have never felt an earthquake this big. It felt like we were on a trampoline; it was really scary. As I rushed to get outside, everything in the house fell down: the television, my son’s trophies, the dish racks, suitcases on top of the wardrobes.” Nona, 51, a resident of Talibura village, told Reuters: “The quake was massive, the shock was so strong, we were resting at home with family. There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.” Arnold Welianto, who lives in Talibura near the coastline, told the BBC: “The water remained low for quite some time, so everyone panicked and ran.” Many residents of Talibura are choosing to remain outdoors as the aftershocks mean they are afraid to return to their homes.
Indonesia lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense tectonic activity that makes it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Flores was struck by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in 1992, which triggered a tsunami and resulted in around 2,500 deaths. The Boxing Day tragedy of 2004, a 9.1-magnitude tremor off Sumatra, triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 across the region, about 170,000 of them in Indonesia. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing. Dozens of aftershocks have been recorded following Saturday’s quake, with the strongest measuring a magnitude of 6.1.