Indonesia’s earthquake-hit Flores region has been hit by another earthquake. The magnitude 5.9 quake that struck on Monday came days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude quake killed at least 53 people and caused widespread damage.
Germany’s GFZ Research Center for Geosciences said Monday’s quake had a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). There were no immediate reports of new casualties or damage.
Earlier on Saturday morning, a strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake was about 68 kilometers northwest of the city of Ende.
A tsunami warning was issued after the powerful earthquake. Residents in coastal areas were asked to evacuate to safer places and higher ground. The warning was later lifted after no significant changes in sea levels were seen.
53 killed, over 130 injured
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said rescuers recovered 47 bodies on Saturday, most of them from the Sikka, Manggarai and East Manggarai areas. Six more bodies were recovered on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 53.
More than 130 people were injured in the earthquake.
Thousands of people spent the night in the open air, fearing aftershocks. Authorities initially reported more than 230 aftershocks following the earthquake. The National Disaster Management Agency later said at least 995 aftershocks had been recorded. Of these, 46 people were able to feel them. The strongest aftershock had a magnitude of 6.2.
More than 900 houses were completely destroyed across East Nusa Tenggara. Another 450 houses were damaged, forcing about 5,000 people to seek temporary shelter. At least 241 houses were damaged in the Flores region.
The earthquake also damaged or destroyed more than 100 government facilities, including schools, medical centers, and churches.
Landslide hampers rescue efforts
East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko said the earthquake caused extensive damage and many buildings collapsed. Power outages also disrupted communications.
Darmoko said that work is underway to collect information on damage and casualties. However, communication disruptions are making it difficult to collect information.
Landslides caused by the earthquake have cut off parts of the Trans-Flores Highway in Ende Regency. The approximately 435-mile-long road stretches from Labuan Bajo to Larantuka on Flores island.
Rescue workers have warned that the death toll could rise as remote villages in the island’s six regencies have been buried by landslides or cut off communications.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency has deployed a helicopter to assist in emergency operations, delivering relief supplies and evacuating people if necessary.
Because East Nusa Tenggara is made up of many islands, reaching remote areas has been particularly difficult for rescue teams.
‘Everything in the house fell down’
Local residents described the intensity of the quake. Ruteng town resident Yulian Zuita Ekalia told AFP news agency he had never felt such a strong earthquake before. It felt like they were standing on a trampoline.
The 37-year-old university teacher said he tried to get out of his house as quickly as possible when the earthquake struck. Everything in the house fell, including the television, his son’s trophy, the shelf for storing dishes and the suitcase on top of the cupboard. When he got outside, he saw that his son and the neighbours had already arrived. They were all screaming in fear.
Footage broadcast on local television after the quake showed patients being evacuated from several hospitals. Hospital staff carried out beds, oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment. Makeshift medical centers were also set up there.
Earthquake-prone Indonesia
Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.” The region is known for its intense earthquake and volcanic activity.
Flores was also badly damaged by a major earthquake in 1992. The tsunami that followed that earthquake killed about 2,500 people.
A locally powerful tsunami struck after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 2018. It caused widespread damage to coastal areas and killed more than 4,400 people.
Earlier, in 2004, a powerful 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra. The resulting tsunami killed about 230,000 people.
