At least 47 individuals lost their lives following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and numerous aftershocks that hit off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Saturday, as per the latest update from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Approximately 2,000 people sought refuge in safer areas due to the disaster.
Rescue teams have not yet been able to access Nagekeo, the area nearest to the quake’s epicenter, because landslides have obstructed roads and disrupted communication channels, according to officials.
Although a tsunami warning was issued, it was lifted approximately three hours after the earthquake struck.
Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village in East Nusa Tenggara, described the tremor as massive, prompting her and 12 others to flee their home to safety.
In Maumere, a port town, earlier reports indicated that rescuers discovered 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals trapped under debris. Maumere is the primary town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia.
BNPB Chief, Suharyanto, mentioned that there are still residents trapped in various buildings within the affected areas of the earthquake. Furthermore, landslides have blocked several roads in the region.
Efforts to reach Nagekeo, the closest area to the quake’s epicenter, have been hampered by communication signal disruptions and blocked roadways due to landslides. Around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo have been evacuated, with reports of damaged houses, warehouses, and government structures.
In a press conference, the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, disclosed that at least five individuals perished in collapsed rubble while asleep.
Initial data from BNPB indicated significant damage to 157 homes, moderate damage to 41 residences, and minor damage to 148 houses. Additionally, 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, six office buildings, and other infrastructure suffered varying degrees of damage.
Witnesses shared videos on social media showing panicked individuals as parts of buildings collapsed during the earthquake in Maumere.
Residents like Siti Sulfia Bira, 37, residing near the port in Maumere, evacuated to higher ground as soon as the tremors began. She expressed concerns about returning home due to fears of potential aftershocks.
The earthquake’s impact was felt strongly across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, with reports of shaking lasting about one minute from various regions.
Indonesia is situated in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area known for frequent seismic activity due to the convergence of different tectonic plates, resulting in numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.