Indonesia keeps Rp5 trillion ready as NTT earthquake toll hits 54

A devastating earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Monday, killing at least 54 people and damaging approximately 500 homes, according to the country's disaster mitigation agency, BNPB. The quake, which occurred during Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations, triggered nearly 1,600 aftershocks, causing landslides that blocked roads in parts of East Nusa Tenggara province, including Sikka and Manggarai.

Thousands of residents are currently sheltering outdoors, reluctant to return home due to ongoing tremors and concerns over safety. Rescue operations, including aerial monitoring, are ongoing, with no reported missing persons. However, residents face shortages of basic necessities, such as clean water and food, particularly in a damaged health center near the quake-affected Ende region.

Authorities are preparing emergency medical facilities, including field hospitals, to treat victims suffering from severe injuries. President Prabowo Subianto presided over national celebrations in Jakarta, about 1,500 km away from the disaster zone, while residents in several villages struggled to access essential supplies and medical assistance.