Jakarta: At least 51 people were killed and around 5,000 others evacuated after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia.
Indonesian Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said that 36 people sustained serious injuries, while 77 others suffered minor injuries following the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara province.
Deputy Chief of Sikka Simon Subandi said that residents were reluctant to remain indoors following the earthquake, with many spending the night on porches or in tents outside their homes.
Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that more than 3,500 military and police personnel had been deployed to the affected areas to support relief and disaster-response operations.
The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that most of those still missing were believed to be trapped beneath rubble. More than 1,300 houses were damaged, while 20 fuel stations ceased operations due to power outages.
Authorities continue to conduct search-and-rescue operations and assess the extent of the damage in the affected areas.
Indonesia and neighboring countries are located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, extending from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific Basin. The region is frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic activity.
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake also struck eastern Indonesia in early July, although it caused no casualties or significant damage.
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