A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Flores early Saturday morning, resulting in at least 53 deaths and the displacement of approximately 5,000 people. The shallow quake occurred shortly before 05:00 local time at a depth of 15 kilometers, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Rescue teams are currently searching for survivors amidst 341 recorded aftershocks.
This event marks the country's deadliest earthquake since a 2022 tremor in West Java. A separate magnitude 6.9 earthquake was also reported elsewhere in Indonesia, though specific details on that event were not provided. The BNPB stated that the Manggarai province was among the most severely impacted areas, with tremors felt as far away as Bima.
Casualty reports from the BNPB indicate 25 deaths in Manggarai, 20 in East Manggarai, four in Sikka, two in Ende, and one each in Nagekeo and West Manggarai. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus reported that 36 people sustained serious injuries while 77 others had minor injuries. Preliminary data shows more than 900 homes and hundreds of public buildings, including schools and healthcare facilities, have been damaged.
The scale of the economic and structural impact is significant, with hundreds of government offices and schools requiring repair or reconstruction. Residents in coastal areas like Talibura reported self-evacuating to higher ground due to fears of a tsunami, a concern that lasted for three hours before the official warning was lifted. The collapse of infrastructure, such as a ferry gangway in Maumere that threw passengers into the sea, highlights the immediate physical dangers posed to travelers and commuters during the seismic activity.
Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing, with teams working to clear landslides that have cut off access to several villages. The BNPB has begun dispatching tons of emergency supplies to Manggarai, but local officials like hospital spokesperson Rista Mari noted that some facilities were still awaiting the arrival of medical assistance as of Sunday. Future policy and disaster response in the region will likely be informed by the assessment of this event, as officials continue to monitor aftershocks and evaluate the stability of damaged structures.