Aid shortages and fears of starvation as Indonesia reels from deadly earthquake
Some 53 people were killed and thousands displaced by the earthquake, which struck early on Saturday.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Flores on Saturday, causing extensive damage and leaving hundreds of victims in its wake. The densely populated Dampek village, among the hardest hit areas, lacked essential medical resources. Dr Melinda, the sole physician at the now-decimated Dampek Health Centre, expressed her urgent need for assistance, stating that she had not had any rest since the disaster began.
Hundreds of displaced survivors sought refuge outdoors, fearing additional building collapses, while makeshift hospitals in the rubble provided emergency medical care. Landslides hindered access roads and supply delivery, exacerbating concerns about the survivors' survival. The earthquake claimed at least 68 lives and displaced around 5,000 people, marking it as Indonesia's deadliest quake since 2022.
Search-and-rescue teams and volunteers, including medical personnel, continued efforts to reach isolated communities, navigating treacherous terrain scarred by landslides and boulders. Meanwhile, Ruteng Regional General Hospital sought urgent assistance as its operating room, delivery room, pharmacy, and laboratory were rendered inoperable due to the earthquake.
Indonesia's Emergency Management Agency reported over 1,000 damaged homes and numerous damaged health facilities, schools, and government offices.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
