At least 51 people have been killed and 113 injured after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, leaving parts of East Nusa Tenggara province grappling with collapsed buildings, landslides, blocked roads and widespread power outages. Of those injured, 36 were reported to be in serious condition, while 77 suffered less severe injuries, according to officials.
The earthquake struck on Saturday morning in the Flores region of East Nusa Tenggara. The shallow and powerful tremor triggered widespread panic and was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. Authorities recorded around 341 aftershocks, forcing many residents to remain outdoors because of fears that damaged buildings could collapse during further shaking. About 5,000 people have been evacuated from affected communities.
Sikka Regency, one of the worst-hit areas, has seen more than 3,300 residents either evacuate independently or seek refuge in safer locations, including a sports arena. Many families have been reluctant to return home, particularly where houses have suffered structural damage. Some survivors have spent the night on verandas, in open areas or beneath makeshift tarpaulin shelters while waiting for conditions to stabilise.
The situation in Maumere, the main town in Sikka, has placed additional pressure on emergency medical services. With casualties arriving in increasing numbers, medical teams have established treatment facilities outside hospitals, including temporary tents. Doctors, nurses and other health workers are treating injured residents while continuing to assess people rescued from damaged structures.
Initial assessments indicate that more than 1,300 homes have been damaged, although the scale of destruction could increase as rescue teams gain access to areas that remain difficult to reach. Officials have warned that people may still be trapped beneath rubble, while some remote communities have been cut off by landslides and damaged infrastructure.
Landslides have emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to the rescue operation. Large quantities of earth and debris have fallen across roads, disrupting vital links and making it difficult for emergency teams to reach isolated communities. The damage has also affected the Trans-Flores transport network, while power and communications outages have complicated the coordination of relief operations.
More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to support rescue and relief operations. Their responsibilities include clearing debris, securing affected areas, assisting evacuations and helping deliver essential supplies to communities that have been isolated by the disaster. Authorities are also considering declaring a provincial state of emergency, a step that would allow additional resources and funding to be mobilised.
The earthquake has disrupted the local fuel supply as well. State energy company Pertamina said 20 petrol stations were unable to operate because of power outages, creating additional difficulties for emergency vehicles and residents attempting to leave damaged areas. Restoring electricity and fuel distribution is therefore becoming an important part of the wider relief effort.
The disaster also briefly prompted tsunami concerns. A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake but was later lifted after monitoring showed no continuing sea-level threat to affected communities. Small tsunami waves were nevertheless recorded in parts of the region.
The Flores region has a history of severe seismic activity. The same broader area was struck by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused extensive destruction. Indonesia as a whole is highly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and generate frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The latest disaster is being described as Indonesia’s deadliest earthquake since the devastating 2022 earthquake in West Java. Rescue teams are continuing to search damaged buildings and landslide-hit areas, while authorities work to restore roads, electricity, communications and basic services. With aftershocks still occurring, emergency crews and residents face continued risks as the search for survivors and assessment of the full damage continue.
