NTT Earthquake: Evacuee Numbers Fall as Aftershocks Decline

The number of people displaced by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province has fallen by 4,142, but 188,161 residents remained in evacuation centers as of Aug. 30.

Manggarai and Nagekeo districts hosted the largest numbers of evacuees, with 50,556 and 50,574 people respectively. Large groups also remained displaced in East Manggarai, West Manggarai, Ngada, Sikka and Ende.

Indonesia’s disaster agency recorded 9,765 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1.0 to 6.2. Residents felt 155 of them. Berton SP Panjaitan, acting head of the agency’s disaster data and communications center, said the aftershock sequence had begun to weaken, but further shocks could continue for three to four weeks.

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Residents felt 155 of the aftershocks. The series of aftershocks has begun to show a decline, although we can still expect shocks around three to four weeks after the main earthquake.

The earthquake, which struck Flores Island on Aug. 15, killed 111 people and injured 1,631. Of those injured, 223 suffered severe injuries and 1,408 sustained minor injuries. The disaster damaged 95,567 homes, including 27,414 that suffered severe damage.

Authorities said temporary housing or relocation sites were urgently needed for the families whose homes were severely damaged. Ministries, police and the military have deployed rescue workers and relief supplies. President Prabowo Subianto visited East Nusa Tenggara and promised continued monitoring and deliveries, while Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka pledged immediate repairs and equal assistance for survivors sheltering outside evacuation centers.

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There remains an urgent need to provide temporary housing or relocation sites for 27,414 families whose houses were severely damaged.