Rescue teams in Indonesia are working tirelessly to locate survivors following a powerful earthquake that struck the island of Flores on Saturday. The magnitude 7.7 tremor, which occurred shortly before 05:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Friday) at a depth of 15km, has resulted in at least 47 confirmed fatalities.
According to Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency, the disaster has been compounded by dozens of aftershocks.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that tremors were felt as far west as Bima Regency and City. The impact is widespread, with the Manggarai province identified as one of the most severely affected areas. Casualty reports currently list 24 deaths in Manggarai, 17 in East Manggarai, three in Sikka, and at least one death each in the provinces of Ngada, Ende, and West Manggarai.
Additionally, at least two individuals sustained serious injuries, with 11 others suffering minor injuries.
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, noted that many victims were caught in their sleep by collapsing structures. Preliminary reports indicate hundreds of buildings have been severely damaged by the quake and the dozens of aftershocks that followed.
Residents, including Arnold Welianto of Talibura village in Sikka, described being shaken awake by the violent movement.
Reports from the region indicate that more than 150 houses have been severely damaged, alongside numerous educational institutions, healthcare facilities, places of worship, offices, and other public infrastructure.
At the port in Maumere, the largest town on Flores, video footage captured concrete falling from the terminal building onto passengers waiting for an inter-island ferry. Some individuals were reportedly thrown into the sea when a ship's gangway collapsed under the force of the quake.
While a tsunami warning was initially issued, prompting approximately 2,000 residents to self-evacuate, it was lifted three hours later after no significant sea level rise was recorded.
People could be seen moving inland after authorities issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted. Many residents had fled to higher ground after observing the sea receding.
Access to some remote, mountainous villages has been hindered by landslides, complicating rescue efforts. The BNPB has dispatched aid, with 10,500 packages already delivered to the base of operations. In Ruteng, medical personnel have established a temporary tent outside a local hospital to treat the influx of victims.
Authorities continue to advise the public to remain calm and avoid coastal areas or structures that show visible signs of damage.
The disaster comes as a stark reminder of the region's location along the "ring of fire," where three major tectonic plates meet, making Indonesia highly susceptible to seismic and volcanic activity. A separate magnitude 6.9 earthquake was also reported at the opposite end of the country.
