Around 5,000 individuals have been relocated following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, resulting in a minimum of 53 fatalities, road closures, and landslides, as per authorities’ reports on Sunday. Over 130 individuals sustained injuries, many of whom suffered broken bones.
The earthquake on Saturday marked the deadliest in Indonesia since a previous one in 2022 that claimed hundreds of lives in West Java. The disaster mitigation agency BNPB stated that over 3,300 people in the Sikka region either self-evacuated or sought refuge in a sports arena.
Numerous Sikka residents found themselves stranded outdoors beside collapsed homes, seeking shelter under makeshift tarps. Some individuals received medical attention in tents set up outside a hospital in Maumere, a port town. Abdul Mutas, aged 63, mentioned that they only managed to bring themselves to safety, describing their escape as the tides rose after the quake.
Simon Subandi, the deputy regent of Sikka, highlighted that nearly all residents opted to sleep outside on porches or under tents, fearing aftershocks. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed the deployment of over 3,500 military and police personnel to the affected region.
Residents in Maumere expressed concerns about potential aftershocks, with the disaster agency recording close to 1,000 aftershocks post the initial earthquake. A sports stadium nearby served as a refuge for hundreds of residents, with warm drinks provided as the sun set. Families improvised cradles with clothing attached to tent frames for their infants, while children engaged in soccer games outside.
Head of the region’s disaster mitigation agency, Margaretha Movaldes Da Maga Bapa, mentioned that the quake stirred memories of a previous disaster in 1992, prompting a collective trauma among residents. Search operations continue in areas severely impacted by the earthquake to locate any individuals potentially trapped under rubble.
Although power restoration is nearly complete, repairs to distribution lines are still ongoing. The East Nusa Tenggara government has declared a state of emergency for the province, enabling the mobilization of resources and funding. Geology expert Dwikorita Karnawati highlighted the seismic vulnerability of the region due to the Flores back-arc thrust fault system.
The affected area faced a similar devastating earthquake in 1992, emphasizing the region’s susceptibility to seismic events. Indonesia, a vast archipelago with a population of 290 million, lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a volatile zone where tectonic plates converge, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic activities.