Indonesia earthquake displaces over 5,000, claims 47 lives

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, on Saturday, forcing more than 5,000 residents to flee their homes. As of Sunday morning, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that Sikka Regency is sheltering the largest number of displaced people, with 3,356 individuals spread across various temporary locations. Manggarai Regency also hosts a significant number of evacuees, totaling 2,078 people.

Urgent humanitarian aid is being prioritized for the survivors, particularly in Manggarai Regency. Needs include dozens of emergency tents, 30 tons of rice, essential medicines, 1,000 blankets, 1,000 camp beds, 1,000 mats, clean water supplies, and generators. The earthquake, followed by 341 aftershocks, has inflicted considerable damage across the region.

The disaster has claimed 47 lives, with the highest fatalities reported in Manggarai (23) and East Manggarai (17) regencies. Additionally, 101 people sustained injuries of varying severity. Material losses are extensive, with preliminary data from NTT indicating that 914 houses were severely damaged, 126 moderately damaged, and 317 lightly damaged. Public facilities have also been hard-hit, including 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities, and 38 government offices.

In response to the escalating disaster, the NTT Provincial Government is processing a decree to establish a 14-day emergency response status. Affected regencies and cities have also implemented similar measures. Manggarai Regency declared a 90-day disaster emergency response period, while Ngada and East Manggarai Regencies have declared 30-day and ongoing emergency alert statuses, respectively. Joint teams and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) continue search and rescue operations.

“

The basic rights and logistics in the refugee camps are now one of the priorities of emergency management.