Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day

Indonesia is searching for victims of a deadly quake that struck the East Nusa Tenggara province on Monday, Independence Day, as the country commemorates its national holiday. The initial quake killed at least 53 people and caused landslides, blocking roads and displacing thousands of residents. Nearly 1,600 aftershocks have been recorded since the disaster, with the geophysics agency chief reporting a 5.6 quake in the Nagekeo region on Monday.

Authorities plan to use helicopters and an extrication device to search for survivors trapped under rubble. Rescue workers are treating asthma, aggravated by the panic and aftershocks, while the disaster mitigation agency readies an emergency field hospital and medical teams to treat head trauma and broken bones. President Prabowo Subianto is set to preside over Independence Day celebrations in Jakarta, while residents who fled to higher ground are concerned about their safety amid the ongoing aftershocks.