A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck eastern Indonesia early Saturday morning, resulting in at least 51 deaths and forcing approximately 5,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The seismic event occurred near Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, with its epicenter located roughly 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende. The initial tremor was followed by more than 340 aftershocks, making this one of the country’s most destructive earthquakes in recent years.
The disaster caused extensive structural damage across the affected region, with more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed. Rescue and recovery efforts have been complicated by landslides that have blocked road access to some of the hardest-hit areas, particularly in Nagekeo regency near the epicenter. Authorities deployed three helicopters and a rescue vessel to support emergency response operations, along with over 3,500 military and police personnel to assist with search and rescue activities.
Medical officials reported that 36 people sustained serious injuries while 77 others suffered minor wounds. In heavily affected areas like Sikka regency, thousands of residents sought temporary shelter in public facilities and outdoor spaces due to ongoing aftershock fears. Local officials are considering declaring a state of emergency for the province, which would provide access to additional resources and funding for recovery efforts. A tsunami warning issued immediately after the earthquake was subsequently lifted.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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