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🇸🇬 Singapore /Disasters & Emergencies

‘Another Chance to Live’: Flores Residents Recall Indonesia Quake Panic

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Indonesia's Flores island, causing panic and shaking buildings.
  • Survivors recounted harrowing experiences of fleeing collapsing structures and praying for safety.
  • Authorities issued an initial tsunami warning, which was later lifted, and thousands evacuated their homes.
  • Medical facilities and homes were damaged, and rescue efforts are underway.

Residents of Indonesia's Flores island described scenes of terror and chaos as a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region early Tuesday morning. The tremor, centered just north of Flores, caused widespread panic, with many fleeing collapsing buildings and praying for survival.

Melania Nius, 56, was at her husband's hospital bedside when the quake hit around 5:30 a.m. She recounted the terrifying moments as the hospital bed nearly overturned and everything fell around them. "The bed almost flipped over. Tables and all the things on the tables and on top of the cupboards all fell and scattered everywhere," she said. "We were panicking."

The bed almost flipped over. Tables and all the things on the tables and on top of the cupboards all fell and scattered everywhere. We were panicking.

— Melania NiusRecounting the immediate aftermath of the earthquake while at the hospital.

With evacuation routes partially blocked by debris, Nius prayed for a way out. "God, if you still give us the chance to live, please open a way for us," she recalled. "Thank God, he has given us another chance to live."

God, if you still give us the chance to live, please open a way for us. Thank God, he has given us another chance to live.

— Melania NiusExpressing her prayers and gratitude for survival during the earthquake.

In Ruteng, dozens of patients were moved to tents outside the hospital. Tonsianus Sambang, 31, described the scene as "things were falling everywhere" and patients were evacuated amidst collapsing walls and falling debris. He expressed concern for the patients sleeping outdoors due to aftershocks and appealed for urgent medical aid.

The earthquake, which also injured many, damaged nearly 160 houses and several educational and health facilities. An initial tsunami warning was issued but later lifted, prompting about 2,000 residents to evacuate. The hardest-hit area was Nagekeo, located about 200 kilometers east of Ruteng.

Things were falling everywhere, so our main priority at that moment was how to evacuate the patients and get them out of that room. The walls were collapsing, debris was falling and objects were scattered across the floor.

— Tonsianus SambangDescribing the chaotic evacuation of patients from the hospital.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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