Thousands of individuals in Flores, Indonesia, were still awaiting assistance on Monday following a severe earthquake that resulted in a death toll of at least 68 people, with over 200 individuals sustaining injuries and numerous properties being damaged. Residents on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province mourned the victims and anticipated aid to reach communities isolated by the devastating quake.
The earthquake caused extensive destruction, including collapsed buildings, shattered homes, and blocked roads with debris such as trees and boulders. Rasyid Jafar, a resident in the heavily impacted village of Reo, described his house as reduced to rubble, emphasizing the urgent need for essential supplies like food, medicine, and clean water.
President Prabowo Subianto, during Indonesia’s Independence Day ceremony, urged prayers for those affected by the disasters in East Nusa Tenggara and across the nation. More than 4,500 homes were damaged, forcing approximately 19,000 people into temporary shelters, and 213 individuals sustained injuries due to the earthquake. The disaster also inflicted harm on health facilities, schools, and places of worship.
Authorities reported 1,576 aftershocks as of Monday, with some felt by residents. The province’s governor declared a 14-day state of emergency on Sunday to address the crisis.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, thousands of people in Flores sought refuge under makeshift shelters near their damaged residences to avoid potential aftershocks. The region witnessed widespread devastation, including blocked roads, fallen trees, and severely damaged homes.
Rescue efforts involved the deployment of nearly 1,500 military and police personnel, supported by aircraft distributing aid to affected areas. Emergency field hospitals were established to treat victims in Ruteng, and rescue teams continued to search for potential casualties in the affected regions.
Aid workers managed to reach Palue Island, close to the earthquake’s epicenter, after facing challenging conditions such as blocked roads due to landslides. Indonesia, located in the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has a history of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its geographical positioning.
The recent earthquake in Flores serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, with past incidents in 1992, 2004, and 2018 causing significant loss of life and destruction.