Indonesia declares emergency as aid delays plague quake-hit East Nusa Tenggara

A 14-day state of emergency has been declared in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that killed at least 54 people and injured 135. The disaster, which struck on Saturday, has left approximately 12,800 residents displaced in temporary shelters, with the provincial government now coordinating a complex logistical response to deliver aid to isolated communities.

Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, a spokesman for Indonesia’s BNPB national disaster agency, confirmed the displacement figures on Monday, noting that thousands remain unable to return to their homes. More than 1,300 residences were damaged across the province, with nearly 250 destroyed on Flores island alone. The tremor also affected dozens of public buildings, including educational institutions, government offices, and health facilities.

Despite the declaration of emergency, residents on Flores reported significant delays in the distribution of essential supplies. Mbay resident Junaidin told the AFP news agency that government assistance had not yet arrived, citing a lack of tents, medicine, food, or clean water. Many displaced families spent Monday night sleeping under tarpaulin tents outside collapsed homes, citing fears of aftershocks and the structural instability of their dwellings.

The Indonesian air force has begun airlifting 13 tonnes of emergency aid, including food, clothing, and medical equipment, using Hercules transport planes and a Boeing aircraft. Helicopters are being deployed to reach isolated areas, with military personnel deployed to assist with distribution at key hubs. However, the gap between official logistics and ground-level reality remains a point of contention for survivors.

In Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto led a nationwide moment of silence during Independence Day ceremonies to honour both independence heroes and the victims of the disaster. He asked participants to pray for those affected by the quake and other disasters across the country, marking a somber start to the national holiday.

Medical infrastructure in the region is under severe strain. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus announced plans to construct emergency field hospitals in several areas. In Ruteng, medical staff were forced to assemble a tent hospital after the main facility was damaged. Local doctors reported sufficient medicine stocks but a critical lack of equipment for blood tests and X-rays, complicating patient care in extreme temperatures.

Indonesia’s location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” makes it prone to seismic activity. The 1992 earthquake and tsunami that struck Flores killed approximately 2,500 people, a tragedy that has revived painful memories for current residents. Rescue teams continue to search the stricken area for victims, though no new reports of missing persons have been confirmed as of Monday.