Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 51, Around 5,000 Evacuated
Jakarta: At least 51 people have died and thousands have been evacuated after a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, triggering landslides, damaging homes and cutting off roads, authorities said on Sunday.
The earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday morning and was followed by around 341 aftershocks, making it one of Indonesia’s most devastating earthquakes in recent years.
Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said 36 people suffered serious injuries, while another 77 sustained minor injuries.
Thousands Forced to Leave Their Homes
Around 5,000 people have been evacuated or displaced following the quake.
In the Sikka region alone, more than 3,300 people either left their homes voluntarily or sought shelter at a sports arena, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency BNPB.
Many residents were reportedly too frightened to return indoors because of continuing tremors. Some spent the night under makeshift tarpaulin shelters, while injured people were treated in tents outside hospitals.
“Almost all of Sikka’s residents didn’t dare stay indoors, so they slept on a porch or a tent outside,” Sikka Deputy Regent Simon Sabandi told local broadcaster KompasTV.
Roads Blocked by Landslides
The powerful tremor triggered landslides that blocked access to several areas, including parts of the city of Maumere.
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said rescuers had managed to reach some areas that were initially cut off.
Authorities said most of the people still reported missing were believed to be trapped beneath rubble.
More than 1,300 homes have been damaged, according to BNPB.
The earthquake also disrupted essential services. State energy company Pertamina said around 20 petrol stations were unable to operate because of power outages.
Thousands of Security Personnel Deployed
More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been sent to the affected areas to assist with rescue operations, evacuation and emergency response.
The East Nusa Tenggara government is also considering declaring a provincial emergency. Such a declaration would allow authorities to mobilise additional resources and release funds for relief and recovery operations.
Region Has History of Powerful Earthquakes
The affected region has experienced major earthquakes before.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency said the same broader area was struck by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused widespread destruction.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity because the country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active seismic zones where several tectonic plates meet.
Rescue teams continue to search damaged areas while authorities assess the full scale of the destruction. With aftershocks continuing, thousands of residents remain in temporary shelters as emergency crews work to reach isolated communities.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
