In eastern Indonesia, on the island of Flores, at least 38 people have died after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake devastated infrastructure and residential buildings. The Indonesian Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) confirmed the official death toll, noting that the figure is expected to rise as rescue operations proceed on the ground. In addition to the fatalities, several injured people with varying degrees of severity have been confirmed.
The earthquake occurred shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, corresponding to 22:00 GMT on Friday. According to data from the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency, the epicentre was at a depth of 15 kilometres and located approximately 1,000 kilometres from the popular tourist island of Bali. The region was subjected to a series of strong aftershocks, one of which measured magnitude 6.1, further complicating the situation and spreading fear among the population.
The consequences were devastating for local infrastructure. Buildings in the affected area were severely damaged, and video footage from the port in Maumere showed large pieces of concrete breaking away from the passenger terminal. As the ferry boarding ramp gave way, some passengers were thrown into the sea while waiting to board a ferry. The governor of the East Nusa Tenggara province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, stated at a press conference that many people died in their sleep when they were buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Survivor accounts describe the moment the ground shook. Arnold Welianto, a resident of the village of Taliburi near the coast in Sikki, said he was woken by very strong shaking. After it subsided, he immediately ran to his child’s room to check on their condition. Search and rescue operations are underway, with services battling damaged infrastructure and further risks from aftershocks.
