A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, claiming at least 51 lives and prompting the evacuation of around 5,000 people, making it the nation's deadliest seismic event since 2022.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude struck East Nusa Tenggara province in eastern Indonesia on Saturday morning, leaving at least 51 people dead and triggering widespread devastation across the region. According to Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, 36 individuals sustained serious injuries while 77 suffered minor wounds. The initial quake was followed by approximately 341 aftershocks, compounding fears among residents and hampering rescue efforts.
The disaster prompted large-scale evacuation operations, with around 5,000 people displaced from their homes. In the hardest-hit Sikka region, more than 3,300 residents either evacuated themselves or sought shelter in a sports arena. Photographs and accounts from survivors depicted makeshift encampments with tarp tents, as residents remained too frightened to return indoors. Deputy Regent Simon Subandi stated that almost all Sikka residents refused to sleep in buildings, instead taking refuge on porches or temporary outdoor shelters. One survivor, 63-year-old Abdul Mutas, described fleeing with his family as rising tides threatened their location.
Infrastructure damage proved extensive, with more than 1,300 homes destroyed and roads blocked by landslides. Rescue teams gradually accessed previously inaccessible areas near the port town of Maumere, though authorities reported no immediate count of missing persons, with many believed trapped under rubble. Power outages rendered 20 petrol stations inoperable. In response, over 3,500 military and police personnel were deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations. Provincial authorities are considering declaring an emergency status to facilitate resource mobilization and funding.
