Rescuers dig through rubble and landslides after Indonesia quake kills 47

Rescuers in eastern Indonesia were sifting through collapsed buildings and landslide debris on Monday, searching for victims and potentially alive survivors following a devastating earthquake on Sunday, which claimed at least 47 lives and left over 100 injured. The powerful tremor, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island located in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

The quake, which originated at a depth of around 10 kilometers off the coast, caused widespread panic as it shook much of the island and prompted residents to flee in fear.

In the affected areas, the earthquake brought destruction to more than 900 homes and caused damage to nearly 450 others, forcing approximately 5,000 people to seek refuge in temporary shelters. Thousands more spent the night outdoors, remaining on high alert for strong aftershocks. The disaster agency reported that the quake also damaged or destroyed more than 167 public facilities, including schools, health centers, and churches.

Relief efforts are underway, with workers distributing rice, ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, blankets, and medicine. Emergency shelters are being established for displaced residents, while authorities are working to restore electricity and communications, as well as deliver aid to remote villages that have been cut off by landslides. The biggest challenges remain in these areas, as access to affected communities is severely limited.

The earthquake also impacted Labuan Bajo, the primary gateway to Komodo National Park, a world-renowned tourist destination. Landslides have blocked sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, a 700-kilometer road that connects communities across the mountainous island.