Flores Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 48 as Aid Operations Scale Up
With 5,000 residents displaced and infrastructure severely compromised, the government has dispatched 50,000 aid packages while international partners offer satellite surveillance support.
The death toll from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores island has risen to 48, with at least 101 people injured, as emergency responders accelerate logistics efforts to reach thousands of displaced residents. The seismic event, recorded by the US Geological Survey at a depth of 10km, triggered 341 aftershocks and prompted the evacuation of approximately 5,000 people from coastal and inland communities.
Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, a spokesman for the BNPB national disaster agency, confirmed that aid is beginning to arrive via air and sea routes. The Indonesian government has dispatched 50,000 aid packages, weighing a total of 275 tonnes, to the affected region. BNPB head Suharyanto stated that five helicopters, several planes, a naval vessel, and search and rescue ships are en route to support operations in areas where electricity and telecommunications remain disrupted.
Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with 914 houses severely damaged and hundreds of public facilities affected. Dozens of educational, health, and government offices were struck, including 93 educational and 36 health facilities. In Ruteng, local hospital officials reported that the main building was badly damaged, forcing patients into tents outside. Medical staff managed to perform an emergency C-section in a storage room converted into a temporary operating theatre, resulting in a safe delivery.
International support has been mobilised, with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen offering assistance through the bloc’s Copernicus Earth observation satellites. Von der Leyen stated on X that Europe stands ready to deploy its satellite capabilities to support search and rescue efforts. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also confirmed that preparations are underway to deliver supplies to thousands of evacuees in temporary shelters.
Authorities have lifted the initial tsunami warning after waves of up to 1.6 metres were reported in some coastal regions, but officials urge continued vigilance. Herybertus Geradus Laju Nabit, mayor of the Manggarai regency, warned that it is impossible to predict when aftershocks will end and advised residents to remain alert. The disaster has drawn comparisons to the 1992 Flores earthquake, which triggered a tsunami and killed approximately 2,500 people, underscoring the region’s vulnerability on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
