Earthquake in Indonesia Causes Devastation on Flores Island

Thousands of people on the Indonesian island of Flores are still waiting for help as the country marked its 81st Independence Day. This follows a powerful earthquake that killed at least 68 people, injured over 200, and damaged thousands of homes. The quake, which struck saturday morning, caused widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings and blocked roads.

In the Reo village, the hardest-hit area in the Manggarai district, many like Rasyid Jafar mourn the loss of their homes, pleading for food, medicine, and clean water urgently. Meanwhile, military teams endeavor to provide essential supplies to the cut-off communities.

President Prabowo Subianto led a moment of silence during the Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta to honor heroes and pray for those affected in Nusa Tenggara Timur and other disaster-stricken areas.

More than 4,500 homes were damaged in the region, forcing around 19,000 people to seek refuge in temporary shelters. 213 individuals suffered injuries, and hundreds of health facilities, schools, and places of worship also faced destruction. The province’s governor declared a 14-day state of emergency.

The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers near 6 AM Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Residents fled in panic due to tsunami alerts, which were later lifted. Officials have recorded 1,576 aftershocks by Monday, with only 54 felt by those on the ground.

Mounting Support Needs

Many on Flores island camped out in makeshift tents, wary of possible aftershocks keeping them outdoors. The catastrophe triggered memories of the 1992 earthquake and tsunami that claimed about 2,500 lives on Flores.

Barely receiving necessary resources like food, shelter, and medical care, survivors await governmental aid. Over 1,800 military and police personnel, supported by 10 aircraft and several boats, work tirelessly to distribute over 100 metric tons of emergency supplies, including nearly 5,400 food packages and two field hospitals.

Challenges remain as logistical hurdles slow aid delivery to severely impacted areas, said Abdul Muhari of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Emergency field hospitals were set up in the most affected Ruteng location since local hospitals were damaged.

Rescue Efforts

Rescue operations continue as teams attempt to reach isolated communities. Workers reached the small island of Palue, close to the epicenter, late Sunday after overcoming treacherous terrain and landslides. This community still urgently needs support, with initial surveys revealing severe damage and casualties.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Notably, a 2018 earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi killed over 4,400 people; a 2004 quake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that resulted in approximately 230,000 deaths across multiple countries.

Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan, Dita Alangkara, and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta, Indonesia.