NTT Earthquake Panic: Electricity Poles Topple, House Floors Split

A powerful magnitude 7 earthquake struck the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) region of Indonesia on Saturday, causing widespread panic and significant damage. The tremor, which occurred shortly before 6:00 AM WITA, sent residents fleeing from coastal areas towards higher ground.

“

The floor of the house started splitting open. I just saw the floor starting to split, I didn't look anymore, I just ran.

Samsul Bahri, a 43-year-old shipyard worker in Marapokot, Mbay, Nagekeo, recounted the terrifying moments after waking up to his phone alarm. "The house floor started splitting open," he said, describing his immediate decision to flee for safety without knowing the extent of the damage to his home. Many residents evacuated their homes using vehicles, heading for safety as the ground shook violently.

“

There were several fallen electricity poles on the road, we saw that the walls of some houses had also collapsed.

During the evacuation, Samsul witnessed several electricity poles toppling along the roadside and observed that the walls of some houses had collapsed. As a newcomer to Nagekeo, he followed local residents to higher ground, away from the coast. The immediate priority for everyone was self-preservation, with the collective goal of reaching a safe distance from the shoreline.

“

We are all evacuating, running from the coast towards the mountains. I don't know where I am now, I'm a newcomer. But the locals just said, 'It's safe, it's far from the coast now.' The important thing is to get away from the coast first.