Indonesia’s magnitude 7.7 quake kills at least 51, displaces thousands

More than 1,300 homes damaged and 5,000 people displaced as Indonesia grapples with one of its deadliest earthquakes in years. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck at 5:58 AM local time on Saturday (21:58 GMT, Friday), with its epicenter about 68 km north-northwest of Ende, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province. The US Geological Survey reported the quake’s depth at 10 km. Following the earthquake, 341 aftershocks were recorded. Rescue efforts face challenges due to landslides blocking roads and disrupting communications. At least 51 people died, 36 seriously injured, and 77 suffered minor injuries. Over 3,300 people in Sikka regency fled or were stranded, sheltering in a sports arena. Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village, described fleeing her home with 13 others. In Maumere, residents camped under tarpaulin tents or sought treatment in makeshift tents. Lieutenant General Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), reported 157 houses destroyed and 200 damaged, displacing around 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency. Three helicopters and a rescue vessel were deployed, but access remains difficult due to scattered island geography. East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko noted severe building collapses. Over 3,500 military and police personnel were deployed. Power outages affected 20 petrol stations, and officials are considering a state of emergency. A tsunami warning was lifted after the quake. Authorities warned against evacuations due to ongoing aftershocks, which could last several days. Indonesia’s geophysics agency noted a similar quake in 1992 caused a tsunami killing over 2,500 people. Indonesia’s seismically active location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.