An earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude and numerous aftershocks hit eastern Indonesia, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 individuals, officials reported. Rescue efforts were quickly mobilized towards the epicenter-adjacent regions. Following the quake, a tsunami warning was issued and later revoked after about three hours.
During a televised press briefing, Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), disclosed that the current toll includes 38 fatalities, with two individuals critically injured and 11 sustaining minor injuries. Additionally, around 2,000 people sought refuge in safer locations.
In Maumere, a port town, initial reports from Fathur Rahman, the city’s rescue agency chief, indicated 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals trapped beneath debris. Maumere, situated in the Sikka Regency on Flores Island, is a significant area within Indonesia’s extensive archipelago.
Suharyanto highlighted ongoing challenges, noting that several residents remained trapped in buildings within the quake-affected zones, with landslides obstructing various roadways.
Rescue teams have encountered difficulties reaching Nagekeo, the nearest area to the earthquake’s epicenter. Communication signals in Nagekeo were disrupted, and access routes were impeded by landslides. Authorities reported evacuations of about 2,000 Nagekeo residents, along with damages to residences, warehouses, and governmental structures.
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, confirmed during a press briefing that five individuals perished due to collapsing structures while they were asleep. Witness accounts captured scenes of buildings crumbling into debris amidst panicked crowds fleeing the streets.
Residents across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi experienced intense tremors lasting approximately one minute. The BNPB cited widespread feelings of shock among the populace, prompting evacuations from homes and buildings.
Indonesia, situated along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” encounters frequent seismic activities due to the convergence of tectonic plates, resulting in numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.