Earthquake kills 54, displaces 12,800 in Indonesia

A powerful earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Flores, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement. According to reports, at least 54 people have been killed and 12,800 displaced. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7, occurred shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday and was followed by 341 aftershocks.

The earthquake caused widespread damage, with over 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings severely damaged. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the provinces of Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, Ende, Nagekeo, and West Manggarai were among the most affected. According to the Ghanaian Times, 25 deaths were recorded in Manggarai province, 20 in East Manggarai, four in Sikka, two in Ende, and at least one in both Nagekeo and West Manggarai.

Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors, and aid efforts are underway to assist those affected. Many residents are still waiting for aid, and some have been forced to sleep outdoors due to the risk of aftershocks. According to Mothership, a magnitude 5.9 aftershock hit Flores island on August 17, two days after the initial earthquake. The full scale of the disaster is still being uncovered.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Ghanaian Times, Mothership, The Korea Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.