At least 47 people died after a powerful earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. The quake hit 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, with a depth of about ten kilometers off the coast of Flores. The shaking was so intense that many residents fled their homes in fear, and several buildings collapsed in the process. More than 900 homes were destroyed and nearly 450 others damaged, forcing around 5,000 people to seek shelter in temporary facilities.
Thousands more spent the night outdoors due to fears of strong aftershocks. Relief teams began handing out rice, ready-to-eat meals, water, blankets and medicine to those affected. The disaster struck Labuan Bajo, a popular tourist area known for its access to Komodo National Park. One local resident described how her house nearly collapsed during the quake. Flores has a history of deadly disasters, including a major earthquake in 2018 that triggered a tsunami and killed over 4,400 people.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.7 and was followed by more than 340 aftershocks within hours, according to France 24. Some areas lost electricity and phone service, and one road remained blocked due to landslides. Residents in coastal villages reported feeling the sea recede before the quake, a sign that a tsunami might follow. A tsunami warning was issued but later lifted, though people were told not to return to damaged buildings. At least 101 people were injured in the quake, and emergency medical care was needed by many others. Emergency shelters were being set up to house displaced residents, and aid supplies were on their way.
Local officials said they could not predict when the aftershocks would stop. One woman gave birth in a temporary operating room after an emergency C-section was performed inside a storage room. The government sent 50,000 aid packages weighing 275 tonnes to the affected region. European Union leaders offered support through satellite data from Copernicus to assist in search and rescue efforts.
Indonesia is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent seismic activity. A major earthquake in 2004 off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed around 220,000 people across the region. In one village, a woman spent the night on a hilltop after the quake, still afraid to return home. Another resident said she was still traumatized by an earlier earthquake in 1992 that killed about 2,500 people. Survivors called for urgent help with food, water, medicine and other basic supplies.
Search and rescue teams worked to reach areas blocked by landslides, including parts of Maumere, according to a report from The Hindu. Some residents had to sleep outdoors under makeshift tents or tarpaulins due to damage to their homes. The local hospital in one town was damaged and patients were moved to tents outside. In the worst-hit areas, many homes and public buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. The government is working with international aid groups to deliver emergency supplies like tents, food and medical equipment.
Rescue workers are still assessing damage in many parts of the island and continuing search efforts.