Indonesia earthquake death toll rises to 47; at least 235 aftershocks recorded

At least 47 people have died following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island, with more than 50 others hospitalized. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency reported that 346 houses were damaged, 157 of them severely, and approximately 2,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Over 100 public facilities, including schools and a cathedral, also sustained damage.

The earthquake occurred at 5:58 a.m. local time on August 15, with its epicenter located 10 kilometers beneath the surface off the northern coast of Flores Island in the East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that at least 235 aftershocks followed the main tremor.

In the Ende region, landslides triggered by the earthquake blocked a main road across Flores Island. A local search and rescue official stated that several remote villages were buried or isolated by the landslides. Communication and power outages, coupled with a lack of heavy machinery, have hampered rescue efforts. Authorities are deploying three helicopters and rescue boats to transport relief supplies and assist in evacuations.

The tremors were felt strongly across Flores Island. Residents in Sikka fled to higher ground as buildings shook, and the waiting hall of the Maumere port terminal reportedly collapsed. In one seminary, part of the roof caved in during a mass, forcing students and nuns to evacuate quickly.

Small tsunamis were observed in some areas. According to the Associated Press, waves reaching 1.61 meters in height hit the village of Riung in Ngada Regency, covering the area with mud and debris. Fishing boats were washed ashore, and homes and infrastructure were damaged. Waves of 0.94 meters were recorded in Maumere in Ende Regency, and waves exceeding 0.5 meters were observed in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, and Sape in Bima Regency.

Indonesia is situated on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' making it highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Flores Island experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1992 that claimed around 2,500 lives. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi Island resulted in over 4,400 fatalities. The deadliest event occurred in 2004 when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Aceh province in Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed approximately 170,000 people in Aceh alone, bringing the total death toll across the region to 230,000.

“

At least 47 bodies have been recovered, and more than 50 people have been transported to the hospital.