Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day

Search teams in eastern Indonesia are searching through collapsed buildings on Monday, following a deadly earthquake that killed at least 53 people on Independence Day. The disaster in East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday was the country's deadliest since a 2022 quake in West Java killed hundreds. The official death toll stands at 53, as of late Sunday.

The quake also triggered landslides and blocked roads in the province, including Sikka and Manggarai regions. Thousands of people were evacuated, many taking shelter in tents outdoors, and are reluctant to return home due to aftershock fears.

As of Monday, there were nearly 1,600 aftershocks reported in the province. A 5.6 magnitude quake struck the Nagekeo region near the initial epicenter on Monday morning. A 64-year-old farmer, Firmus Woge, was receiving treatment for his asthma, which intensified due to the ongoing shaking. He reported breathing difficulties both last night and this morning after the morning's tremor.

Rescue efforts will continue on Monday, focusing on aerial monitoring for any missing individuals. Rescue officials will use an extrication device and a helicopter. No missing persons have been reported, and no obstacles are hindering the search. Authorities have prepared planes to deliver aid, including food and tents, according to the chief of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

Indonesia will also construct an emergency field hospital in several areas, as indicated by Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, the country's deputy health minister. The hospital requires neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons to treat head trauma and broken bones. In Jakarta, about 1,500 km (930 miles) away from the disaster zone, President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to lead independence celebrations on Monday. These events mark Indonesia's independence from Japanese rule in 1945.