FLORES, AUGUST 16: Rescuers in eastern Indonesia are racing against time to reach communities trapped under earthquake-induced landslides following a magnitude 7.7 tremor centered in the Flores region. The disaster agency reported that at least 47 individuals lost their lives, while more than 167 public facilities—including health centers, churches, and schools—suffered severe damage.
The quake hit offshore at a shallow depth, rattling neighboring West Nusa Tenggara and parts of southern Sulawesi. Manggarai regency recorded the heaviest toll with 24 fatalities, alongside 17 reported deaths in East Manggarai. The popular tourist gateway of Labuan Bajo, near Komodo National Park, also experienced strong shaking and infrastructure damage.
Local authorities maintained that heavy machinery and rescue personnel are actively clearing blocked arterial roads to reach mountain settlements.
“We cleared most landslides and reopened roads to previously isolated villages, although communication disruptions and power outages continue to hamper search efforts,” asserted Fathur Rahman, regional Search and Rescue Office chief.
In affected towns, survivors remain cautious about entering damaged buildings due to the risk of aftershocks.
“The shaking was terrifying, so intense that my house nearly collapsed,” declared Anastasia Imad, a local farmer forced to stay outdoors. “We feared the aftershocks would bring it down on us while we slept.”
Government agencies continue to set up emergency shelters and distribute essential supplies as search efforts proceed through the affected island terrain.
