At least 47 individuals lost their lives following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that hit off the coast of eastern Indonesia, as reported by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Approximately 2,000 people sought refuge in safer locations as rescue operations faced challenges in reaching Nagekeo, the area nearest to the earthquake’s epicenter, due to road blockages caused by landslides and communication disruptions.
Despite initial concerns, the tsunami alert was lifted three hours after the seismic event. Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura in East Nusa Tenggara, described the intensity of the quake, prompting her and 12 others to quickly evacuate their home for safety.
In Maumere, a port town on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, rescue teams discovered 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals trapped under debris. The head of the city’s rescue agency, Fathur Rahman, provided this information. Meanwhile, Suharyanto, the BNPB chief, highlighted that residents remained trapped in multiple structures, with landslides obstructing various roads in affected areas.
Efforts to reach Nagekeo, the quake’s focal point, were hampered by communication issues, with landslides impeding ground access. However, around 2,000 residents successfully evacuated from Nagekeo, with reports of structural damages to homes, warehouses, and governmental establishments. The region also experienced traffic congestion and power disruptions.
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, confirmed at a press briefing that five individuals perished due to collapsing structures while they slept. Initial data from BNPB indicated severe damage to 157 residences, moderate damage to 41 properties, and minor damage to 148 structures, including schools, health facilities, places of worship, and office buildings.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as parts of buildings crumbled, captured in a video shared on social media platforms. Siti Sulfia Bira, a resident near Maumere’s port, recounted how she and her family swiftly moved to higher ground once the tremors began, expressing fears of potential aftershocks.
The earthquake’s impact was felt across various regions, with residents in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi reporting approximately one minute of intense shaking. Indonesia, situated along the volatile “Pacific Ring of Fire,” faces frequent seismic activities due to the convergence of tectonic plates, leading to a high occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.