{
  "id": 1430206,
  "title": "Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/search-for-indonesia-quake-victims-underway-on-independence-day-1430206",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T05:52:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/search-for-indonesia-quake-victims-underway-on-independence-day/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAs 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.\n\nRescue 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.\n\nIndonesia 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.",
  "summary": "The death toll rose to 53, with landslides and blocked roads reported across East Nusa Tenggara.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Indonesia celebrates 81st Independence Day, enjoys golden friendship with the UAE and a future of shared growth",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/indonesia-celebrates-81st-independence-day-enjoys-golden-friendship",
        "published": "2026-08-17T02:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Antara News Indonesia",
        "title": "Ministers combine Independence Day duties with NTT quake response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ministers-combine-independence-day-duties-with-ntt-quake-response",
        "published": "2026-08-17T02:49:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/search-for-indonesia-quake-victims-underway-on-independence-day-1414516",
        "published": "2026-08-17T02:57:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/search-for-indonesia-quake-victims-underway-on-independence-day",
        "published": "2026-08-17T02:57:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/search-for-indonesia-quake-victims-underway-on-independence-day-1410223",
        "published": "2026-08-17T03:23:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 54, overshadowing Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/thousands-in-indonesia-await-aid-after-quake-kills-54-overshadowing",
        "published": "2026-08-17T04:16:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 53, overshadowing Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/thousands-in-indonesia-await-aid-after-quake-kills-53-overshadowing",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:22:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 54, overshadowing Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/thousands-in-indonesia-await-aid-after-quake-kills-54-overshadowing",
        "published": "2026-08-17T06:00:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 54, overshadowing Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/thousands-in-indonesia-await-aid-after-quake-kills-54-overshadowing-1437999",
        "published": "2026-08-17T06:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}