Thousands await aid after deadly Indonesia quake

On Indonesia's Flores island, aid began arriving for thousands of evacuees following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed 51 people and injured dozens, damaging hundreds of homes and buildings. The quake occurred early Saturday, followed by hundreds of aftershocks. Some 5,000 people fled their homes, leaving several without electricity and telecommunications.

Residents, traumatized by the experience, sought refuge on hilltops, fearing aftershocks. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies started preparing aid packages, while the government dispatched helicopters, planes, naval vessels, and search and rescue ships. Experts warned that aftershocks could persist for days, urging vigilance.