Magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Flores: at least 53 dead, thousands displaced and aftershocks hamper rescue efforts

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the island of Flores in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, causing at least 53 deaths, hundreds of injuries and displacing thousands of people. The main quake, followed by hundreds of aftershocks, inflicted heavy damage to homes and infrastructure, while landslides and blocked roads have hampered access to the hardest-hit areas.

According to a bulletin from the national disaster management agency (BNPB) and reports from international sources, around 5,000 people have been evacuated following the quake. In the Sikka region alone more than 3,300 residents have found temporary shelter on their own or taken refuge in a gymnasium converted into a collection center. In many locations, residents spent the night outdoors, on porches or under plastic tarps, fearful of further tremors.

Local authorities have estimated more than 130 injured, many with fractures. Other reports put the number at 101 injured on Flores alone: the divergence in figures reflects the still-fragmentary picture and the difficulty of reaching all affected areas. No definitive count of the missing has been provided so far, but search-and-rescue teams report people trapped under rubble.

The port city of Maumere and the Sikka district have recorded widespread damage to buildings and homes: the BNPB stated that over 1,300 houses are damaged. Images gathered by agencies show collapsed or severely cracked houses and residents camping near temporary medical facilities. Several fuel stations are out of service due to blackouts: state company Pertamina reported that at least 20 stations were not operational.

A BNPB spokesman, Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, indicated that 341 aftershocks were recorded in the hours following the main tremor. The repeated quakes have forced many people not to return to their homes, increasing immediate demand for basic necessities and emergency shelter equipment.

Rescue efforts have been reinforced with the deployment of more than 3,500 military personnel and police officers, the cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said. Search teams nonetheless encountered logistical difficulties: landslides and blocked roads prevented access to the most isolated communities, slowing the retrieval of the injured and the distribution of aid.

Survivors describe hurried flights from their homes. In Nangahale, a locality on Flores' north coast, residents spent the night on a hill for fear of further shakes and of tide surges after the quake. "I ran away with only my body," Abdul Mutas said, according to international agencies — an image that captures the widespread fear among a population still marked by previous regional earthquakes.

The BNPB has listed immediate and varied needs: tents, food, drinking water, medicines, blankets, cots and generators are among the most urgent items requested by affected communities. Provincial authorities have also considered declaring a state of emergency for East Nusa Tenggara, a measure that would facilitate the mobilization of extraordinary resources and funds.

Saturday's quake is the deadliest in Indonesia since the 2022 earthquake that struck West Java province, where hundreds of people died. The Indonesian archipelago lies along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity caused by movements of tectonic plates.

Local authorities have reactivated hospitals and set up temporary medical facilities to cope with the number of injured. In some areas electricity and communications remain disrupted, complicating the coordination of response efforts. Provincial governors and civil protection leaders have requested logistical support from other regions of Indonesia to speed up the humanitarian response.

Open questions remain: the exact number of missing, the final estimate of material damage and full access to the most remote communities. Authorities have urged the population to stay away from severely damaged structures and to follow the instructions of civil protection agencies. Official sources also say inspections of possible damage to critical infrastructure, such as ports and main hospitals, are still ongoing.

International reaction has not yet been unified or formally coordinated: the immediate priority in the coming hours will be to accelerate the arrival of humanitarian aid and to restore communication routes and essential services. For the people of Flores, already coping with trauma and uncertainty, the immediate challenge is to receive medical assistance and basic supplies while rescue teams continue to dig through rubble in search of possible survivors.

The BNPB and provincial authorities continue to update figures and appeals for assistance as operations proceed. The situation remains dynamic, with aftershocks and logistical obstacles affecting the pace and scope of relief operations.