Tragic Toll Rises to at Least 47 Dead Following Powerful 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake in Indonesia

The death toll following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday crossed 45, according to the latest statement from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Earlier, rescue workers near the port town of Maumere found 20 dead, six injured, and two trapped under rubble, reported Fathur Rahman, head of the city's rescue agency. Maumere serves as the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island.

Emergency personnel have not yet reached Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicentre of the quake, and communication systems there have been affected, Mr Fathur stated. Roads leading to the area are currently blocked by landslides, and a team is attempting to reach the location by ferry.

Approximately 2,000 residents in Nagekeo were successfully moved to safety. The national disaster mitigation agency reported damage to houses, warehouses, and government sites, alongside traffic congestion and power cuts in parts of the regency.

Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, announced at a media conference that at least five individuals died when a building collapsed on them while they slept.

“The quake was massive, the shock was so strong. We were resting at home with family,” recalled Nona, a resident of Talibura, a village located in East Nusa Tenggara. “There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.”

Preliminary data from BNPB indicated that 157 homes were heavily damaged, 41 moderately damaged, and 148 lightly damaged. Furthermore, damage was documented across 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, six office buildings, and various other pieces of infrastructure.

Tremors were widely felt across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi. Residents in several areas noted that the shaking lasted for approximately one minute. Minor tsunami waves of less than one metre were recorded in several regions following the morning tremor, though the tsunami warning was lifted about three hours after the earthquake struck.

The Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG recorded the initial quake at 4:58 am at a depth of 15km, which was subsequently followed by several aftershocks. The agency noted that in 1992, the very same area was struck by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that caused extensive destruction.

Indonesia is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone where tectonic plates in the Earth's crust meet, frequently resulting in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In the wake of the disaster, the United Arab Emirates expressed its solidarity with Indonesia, conveying sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the nation, and its people, while offering wishes for a swift recovery to all those who sustained injuries.