Around 5,000 individuals have been relocated following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, resulting in a death toll of at least 53, as well as road blockages and landslides, as per authorities on Sunday. Over 130 individuals have sustained injuries, with many suffering from fractures.
This earthquake on Saturday marked the deadliest in the country since a quake in 2022 that claimed hundreds of lives in West Java. The Sikka region saw over 3,300 people self-evacuate or seek refuge in a sports arena, according to the disaster mitigation agency BNPB.
In the aftermath, some residents of Sikka found themselves stranded outside collapsed homes, seeking shelter under makeshift tarps. Meanwhile, others received medical attention under tents outside a hospital in Maumere.
One survivor, Abdul Mutas, shared, “I only brought my body,” recounting how he and his family sought safety as the tides rose after the quake struck.
Simon Subandi, the deputy regent of Sikka, revealed that nearly all residents chose to sleep outdoors due to safety concerns.
To assist the affected region, more than 3,500 military and police personnel have been dispatched, as confirmed by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The fear of aftershocks looms large in Maumere, where a closed port now lies in ruins. Residents expressed their apprehension, with the disaster agency reporting close to 1,000 aftershocks post the main quake. Nearby, a sports stadium has been repurposed as an evacuation center.
As the day turned to dusk, residents queued for warm beverages, while mothers ingeniously fashioned makeshift cradles for their infants using clothing and tent frames. Children, on the other hand, found solace in playing soccer outdoors.
Margaretha Movaldes Da Maga Bapa, head of the local disaster mitigation agency, noted the haunting recollection of the 1992 earthquake, stating, “We’ve had quakes often. But this one really brings back the trauma of the one from 1992.”
Search and rescue operations continue with a focus on clearing rubble in the worst-hit areas to locate any potential survivors still trapped. Despite almost full restoration of power supply, work is ongoing to repair distribution lines, according to state utility firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara.
An emergency declaration has been issued for the province by the East Nusa Tenggara government, allowing for the mobilization of resources and funding, as confirmed by BNPB.
Geology expert Dwikorita Karnawati highlighted the earthquake risk in the region due to the “Flores back-arc thrust fault,” a significant system of thrust faults. The area had previously experienced a devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, causing widespread destruction, as indicated by Indonesia’s geophysics agency.
Indonesia, with its vast population of 290 million spread across numerous islands, sits within the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a zone prone to seismic activity due to tectonic plate movements, leading to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.