Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 68, overshadowing Independence Day
REO, Indonesia (AP) -- Thousands of people waited for aid on the Indonesian island of Flores on Monday as the country marked its 81st Independence Day
Indonesia observed its 81st Independence Day Monday, two days after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Flores island left at least 68 people dead and over 200 injured. Military teams worked to deliver food, clean water, and clothing to remote communities, as the disaster overshadowed the nation's celebration. The quake, which struck early Saturday morning, caused extensive damage to buildings and roads, with some residents reduced to rubble.
President Prabowo Subianto called for prayers for the affected population during the Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta. Over 4,500 homes were damaged, and 19,000 people were forced into temporary shelters. Authorities declared a 14-day state of emergency, and over 1,800 military and police personnel have since been deployed, supported by 10 aircraft and vessels.
Though 1,576 aftershocks were recorded, only 54 were felt by residents. The disaster brought back memories of the 1992 earthquake and tsunami that killed about 2,500 people in Flores. Rescue teams continued searching for victims in isolated areas, though no families reported any still missing.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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