Indonesia earthquake kills 47, damages hundreds of homes

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province early Saturday, leaving at least 47 people dead and hundreds of homes damaged, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The quake, centered in Nagakeo Regency, caused widespread destruction. Fatalities were reported across multiple regencies, with Manggarai recording the highest death toll at 24, followed by Manggarai Timur with 17. In addition to the human toll, the disaster left a trail of destruction to property and infrastructure. As of Saturday evening, 157 houses were severely damaged, with hundreds more suffering moderate or minor damage. Public facilities also bore the brunt, with 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, and several places of worship and offices impacted. BNPB has mobilized significant aid, dispatching food and non-food packages from its logistics warehouse in East Flores. Further assistance is being sent from Jakarta, with a total of 50,000 packages, weighing 275 tons, prepared. Some 10,500 packages have already arrived from the Cabinet Secretariat. The earthquake's tremors were felt in neighboring areas, including Bima Regency and City in West Nusa Tenggara, and Selayar Islands in South Sulawesi. While conditions in Bima were reported as generally stable, local disaster management authorities are still assessing the damage. In the Selayar Islands, evacuation posts have been established in three sub-districts.