Massive 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Eastern Indonesia, Leaving at Least 51 Dead and Thousands Displaced

Rescue teams are actively searching for victims in Maumere, Indonesia, following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province. The disaster has resulted in at least 51 deaths and forced approximately 5,000 people to evacuate their homes as emergency workers struggle to clear blocked roads and reach survivors trapped under rubble.

The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake hit at 5:58am local time on Saturday, with its epicentre located about 68km north-northwest of Ende on Flores Island at a depth of 10km. Following the initial tremor, roughly 341 aftershocks have been recorded, making this one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit Indonesia in recent years.

Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus announced during a televised meeting that 36 people sustained serious injuries while 77 others suffered minor injuries. In Sikka regency, over 3,300 displaced residents have sought refuge in a sports arena after fleeing their homes.

Local residents described the terrifying moment the disaster struck. Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village, recounted how 13 family members ran from their home to save themselves. In Maumere, residents camped under tarpaulin tents outside collapsed homes while others received medical care in makeshift tents outside local facilities.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), headed by Lieutenant General Suharyanto, reported that at least 157 houses were destroyed and nearly 200 others damaged. In Nagekeo regency, close to the epicentre, about 2,000 villagers were forced into temporary shelters. Authorities have deployed three helicopters and a rescue vessel to assist the response effort.

East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko noted that the disaster caused severe damage across the province, while Fathur Rahman of the local search and rescue agency in Maumere stated that landslides have disrupted communications and blocked roads leading to Nagekeo. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that more than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to the region.

State energy firm Pertamina reported that more than 1,300 homes have been damaged and 20 petrol stations remain closed due to power outages. Officials are currently considering a state of emergency declaration for East Nusa Tenggara to secure additional resources, while an initial tsunami warning has been lifted.

Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington, reporting from Jakarta, warned that aftershocks could persist for several days as officials urge residents to stay away from shorelines and damaged structures. Historical records from Indonesia’s geophysics agency recall a similarly powerful earthquake and tsunami in December 1992 that claimed over 2,500 lives on Flores.