Thousands of individuals in Flores, Indonesia, awaited assistance as of Monday following a deadly earthquake that claimed at least 68 lives, left over 200 injured, and caused extensive property damage. Residents of Flores, part of East Nusa Tenggara province, were in mourning and eagerly anticipating aid in communities isolated by the quake.
President Prabowo Subianto, during Indonesia’s Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta, called for prayers for those affected by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara and other regions, leading a moment of silence to honor national heroes. The earthquake, which struck with a depth of 10 kilometers early Saturday, resulted in over 1,300 homes damaged, 5,000 individuals relocated to temporary shelters, and 213 injured, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
Over 1,500 aftershocks were recorded until Monday, with limited impact felt by residents. The governor of the province declared a state of emergency lasting 14 days on Sunday.
On Flores, numerous people camped outside collapsed homes, seeking refuge under tarpaulin tents to avoid potential aftershocks. The island exhibited widespread devastation, with blocked roads due to fallen trees, homes in ruins, and boulders scattered by landslides. The affected population urgently required essential supplies such as food, medicine, and clean water.
Approximately 1,500 military and police personnel were dispatched to the disaster zone, aided by 10 aircraft distributing 275 tons of aid. Challenges in logistics hindered aid delivery to severely affected areas. Emergency field hospitals were established in Ruteng to treat victims after local medical facilities sustained damage.
Aid workers reached Palue Island, near the quake’s epicenter, after navigating treacherous terrain affected by landslides, providing vital assistance to isolated residents. Indonesia’s susceptibility to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” has historically resulted in natural disasters, with devastating events recorded in the past.
In 1992, Flores was hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, claiming around 2,500 lives. Subsequent disasters, including the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and ensuing tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands, highlight the region’s vulnerability to seismic events.