Indonesian quake survivors recall trauma of all-day intense aftershocks, self-rescue
Carolus Winfridus was asleep when an earthquake struck off Indonesia’s island of Flores, as he was awoken by intense rumbling and saw his wardrobe doors flying open. He and his family quickly scrambled for a way out of their house in the town of Maumere, Sikka Regency, one of nine regencies hit by Saturday’s devastating 7.7-magnitude quake that killed almost 80 people and displaced nearly…
On Saturday, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in Indonesia, causing widespread damage and loss of life. Carolus Winfridus, a local NGO worker, was awakened by the intense shaking at 6:45 am and escaped his locked house by jumping through an open window. He described the aftershocks as lasting for at least five minutes, unlike the shorter tremors he was used to.
The quake killed 78 people and displaced nearly 100,000, with more than 900 injured. Abdul Muhari, a deputy at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, reported 4,256 aftershocks since the quake, emphasizing the challenges for relief efforts in remote areas due to blocked roads, power cuts, and relentless aftershocks. Koko Suwandi, a civil servant in Riung village, recounted how residents set up their own response post and gathered necessities like food, water, and tents to aid their community.
The search and rescue team faced difficulties due to impassable roads and landslides, but they worked to rescue trapped residents and provide medical care. Indonesia's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it prone to earthquakes, and while technology has improved since the 1992 tsunami, residents remain vigilant and prepared for future disasters.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
