Magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills at least 53 in Indonesia; thousands displaced

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Flores shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, killing at least 53 people and displacing around 5,000 residents, according to BBC News. The initial quake occurred just 15 kilometers below the surface, followed by 341 aftershocks that compounded destruction across the mountainous region.

The earthquake is the deadliest in Indonesia since 2022, when hundreds were killed in West Java. Per BBC News reporting, Manggarai province was hardest hit with 25 deaths, followed by East Manggarai with 20 fatalities, Sikka province with four deaths, and Ende with two. At least one death each was reported in Nagekeo and West Manggarai provinces.

Physical destruction across the region is extensive. More than 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings have been severely damaged, according to BBC News. Dozens of schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices suffered severe damage. Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai had its operating theatre and clinic ceilings cave in, leaving the facility partially non-functional. Hospital spokesperson Rista Mari stated to BBC News: "We heard that medical assistance would be provided, but nothing has arrived yet."

Displacement figures show concentration in specific zones. According to BBC News, 3,356 people were displaced in Sikka province and 2,078 evacuated in Manggarai. At least 36 people suffered serious injuries in East Nusa Tenggara province, and 77 others sustained minor injuries, per BBC News.

Secondary hazards complicated the crisis. When a tsunami warning was issued, approximately 2,000 people self-evacuated, according to BBC News. The warning was lifted about three hours after the initial quake when no significant sea level rise was detected. Landslides have blocked access to some villages, hampering rescue and assessment efforts. At Maumere port, large chunks of concrete broke off the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry, with some thrown into the sea when the gangway collapsed, BBC News reported.

Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena stated, per BBC News, that several victims had been killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble. Tremors were reportedly felt as far west as Bima, and a second magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred elsewhere in Indonesia on the same day.

Indonesia lies along the meeting point of three major tectonic plates, making it one of the world's most seismically active regions. The National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) dispatched tonnes of emergency supplies to Manggarai, according to BBC News, but assessment of the full extent of damage in the remote terrain remains ongoing as rescue operations continue.