Deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake leaves thousands displaced in Indonesia

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck Indonesia’s Flores region, killing at least 53 people, injuring more than 100 and leaving thousands unable to return home. The shallow earthquake hit early on Saturday near the north coast of Flores, with strong shaking reported across parts of East Nusa Tenggara.

Authorities said the deaths were recorded across several regencies, including Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, Ngada and Ende. Search and rescue teams continued operations in damaged communities, although officials said there were no confirmed reports of missing people by Monday. Roads to hard-to-reach areas were gradually reopened as debris was cleared.

The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning, which was later lifted after no significant sea level rise was detected. Many residents nevertheless fled inland, especially in coastal areas where memories remain strong of the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami that killed around 2,500 people.

The human impact has quickly moved beyond the initial casualties. Nearly 13,000 people were reported displaced by Monday morning, with families sheltering in schools, police stations, government offices, makeshift tents and open spaces. Many residents said they were afraid to return indoors because of hundreds of aftershocks.

Damage assessments were still developing. Early official figures listed more than 150 severely damaged houses, while later reporting indicated that at least 914 homes had suffered severe damage, with many others affected to a lesser degree. Public buildings were also hit, including educational facilities, health centres, places of worship and government offices.

In Maumere, video showed concrete falling from a port terminal building as passengers waited for an inter-island ferry. The collapse of a gangway reportedly threw some people into the sea, illustrating how earthquake damage can disrupt not only homes but also transport links and local evacuation routes.

Aid delivery became a major concern as residents waited for tents, food, clean water and medical support. The Indonesian Air Force said it was sending emergency supplies by Hercules aircraft, Boeing transport and helicopters to reach isolated communities. The aid included food, clothing, drinking water and medical equipment.

The main earthquake was followed by more than 100 aftershocks, including one reported at magnitude 6.1. This has left many people sleeping outside for successive nights, unwilling to enter cracked or partially damaged buildings.

Indonesia’s exposure to earthquakes is well known because the country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where active tectonic boundaries and volcanoes make seismic events frequent. For Flores, the latest earthquake is another severe reminder that recovery depends not only on rescue operations, but on safe shelter, rapid damage assessment, clear communication and restoration of basic services.

The next priority will be identifying buildings that are unsafe to reoccupy, checking public facilities, reopening access roads safely and ensuring that aftershock damage does not create further casualties.