At least 47 individuals lost their lives following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake and numerous aftershocks that hit eastern Indonesia over the weekend, as reported by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Around 2,000 people sought refuge in safer locations due to the disaster.
Efforts by rescue teams to reach Nagekeo, the area nearest to the quake’s epicenter, have been hampered by landslides obstructing roads and disrupting communication channels. The tsunami alert was rescinded approximately three hours after the seismic event.
Describing the impact of the earthquake, a 51-year-old resident named Nona from Talibura village in East Nusa Tenggara stated, “The quake was massive; the shock was so strong. There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.”
Initial reports from Maumere revealed that rescuers discovered 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals trapped under debris. Suharyanto, the head of BNPB, mentioned that inhabitants remain trapped in various structures in the affected zones, with landslides blocking several roads.
Efforts to reach Nagekeo, the closest region to the quake’s epicenter, have been impeded by communication disruptions, Fathur informed Reuters. About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo have been evacuated, and significant damage has been recorded in multiple residential and public buildings.
Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara Province confirmed at a press briefing that five individuals died due to collapsing structures while they were asleep. Preliminary data from BNPB indicated extensive damage to homes, schools, health facilities, places of worship, and other infrastructure.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as parts of buildings crumbled during the earthquake. Strong tremors were felt across several regions in Indonesia, a country known for its high seismic activity due to its location on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.