Deadly Quake: 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Kills 51 in Indonesia

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, leaving at least 51 people dead and nearly 5,000 displaced across the affected areas. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 68 kilometers northwest of Ende on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Authorities reported around 341 aftershocks following the main quake, while 36 people sustained serious injuries and 77 others suffered minor injuries. At least 157 houses were completely destroyed and around 200 others were damaged. More than 3,300 people were displaced in Sikka Regency alone, with some taking shelter in sports stadiums and temporary camps. Rescue efforts have been complicated by landslides, blocked roads, damaged communication networks and the region’s scattered island geography. Three helicopters, a rescue vessel and more than 3,500 soldiers and police personnel have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. A tsunami warning issued after the earthquake was later withdrawn, although authorities have warned that aftershocks could continue for several days. The disaster has renewed memories of the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 2,500 people in the same region. Meanwhile, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal expressed condolences over the loss of lives, extending solidarity and sympathy to the Indonesian government and people and wishing for the speedy recovery of those injured and the safe rescue and rehabilitation of those affected.