Around 5,000 people have been evacuated after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, killing at least 51 people, damaging more than 1,300 homes and triggering landslides, authorities said.
The earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province and was followed by around 341 aftershocks. Thirty-six people were seriously injured, while another 77 suffered minor injuries, according to Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus.
More than 3,300 people in the Sikka region either evacuated themselves or sought shelter at a sports arena. Many residents were afraid to return indoors and spent the night in tents or other temporary shelters.
Rescue teams have reached parts of Maumere that were initially cut off by landslides. Authorities have not yet provided a confirmed number of missing people, although many are believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings.
More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to assist with rescue and emergency operations.
Power outages have also affected fuel supplies, with 20 petrol stations temporarily unable to operate, according to Indonesia’s state energy company Pertamina.
The East Nusa Tenggara government is considering declaring a provincial state of emergency, which would allow authorities to mobilise additional resources and funding.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency said the affected area was previously struck by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused extensive destruction.
Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where tectonic plates meet, making the country prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Source: Reuters
