The island of Flores in Indonesia experienced a catastrophic earthquake early Saturday morning, with a magnitude of 7.7. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported at least 47 fatalities, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue. The quake, which struck shortly before 05:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Friday), had a depth of 15km, making its impact particularly severe.
The shallow depth of the earthquake amplified its destructive power, causing hundreds of buildings to collapse and triggering numerous aftershocks. Among these, a significant aftershock with a magnitude of 6.1 was felt in the same eastern region. Later in the day, a separate 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in North Sumatra, located in western Indonesia, at a depth of 163km.
The human impact and immediate response
Video footage from the port in Maumere captured the chaos as large chunks of concrete broke off the terminal building, injuring passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. Some were even thrown into the sea when the gangway to a ship collapsed. Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena the governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, reported that many victims were killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble.
Arnold Welianto a resident of Talibura, a village near the coastline in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, described being awakened by the “very strong shaking.” He immediately rushed to his child’s room and found that many people had already fled into the hills. “Some other residents were standing along the roadside because the sea had also receded,” he explained. “The water remained low for quite some time, so everyone panicked and ran.”
A tsunami warning was issued but lifted around three hours after the initial jolt when no significant sea level rise was detected. Despite this, 2,000 people had already evacuated or relocated on their own. The BNPB advised people to remain calm and stay away from coastal areas and damaged structures.
The extent of the damage
The most affected areas include Manggarai province where 24 fatalities were recorded, followed by 17 in East Manggarai province, three in Sikka province, and at least one in each of the Ngada, Ende, and West Manggarai provinces. Preliminary reports indicated that more than 150 houses had been severely damaged, along with dozens of educational institutions, healthcare facilities, places of worship, offices, and other public facilities.
Yulian Juita Ekalia a university lecturer from Ruteng, a city to the west of the epicenter, shared her terrifying experience. “I have never felt an earthquake this big,” she told news agency AFP. “It felt like we were on a trampoline – it was really scary.” Many residents, like those in Talibura, chose to remain outdoors due to the fear of aftershocks.
The ongoing recovery efforts
The full extent of the destruction in the region, which is remote and mountainous, will take time to assess. The BNPB has stated that aid is being sent to the affected areas. Indonesia, lying along the meeting point of three major tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. This recent disaster underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the country in managing natural disasters.
