Indonesia Quake Kills 51, Forces Thousands to Evacuate in East Nusa Tenggara

A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday morning, killing at least 51 people and forcing around 5,000 residents to evacuate, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The quake hit East Nusa Tenggara province, triggering landslides and cutting off road access to several areas. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus reported that 36 people were seriously injured and 77 others sustained minor injuries.

The disaster mitigation agency BNPB said more than 3,300 people in the Sikka region had either self-evacuated or taken shelter in a sports arena. Many residents in the port town of Maumere were seen sleeping on porches or in tents, afraid to return indoors.

"Almost all of Sikka's residents didn't dare stay indoors, so they slept on a porch or a tent outside," said Simon Sabandi, deputy regent of Sikka.

Rescue teams have managed to reach parts of Maumere that were previously blocked by landslides. The search and rescue agency said most of the missing are believed to be trapped under rubble. More than 1,300 homes have been damaged, according to BNPB.

Over 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to assist with relief efforts. Power outages have rendered 20 petrol stations inoperable, state energy firm Pertamina reported.

The East Nusa Tenggara government is considering declaring a provincial emergency, which would allow authorities to mobilise additional resources and funding.

The quake was followed by 341 aftershocks, making it Indonesia's worst seismic event in years. The region was also hit by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992 that caused extensive destruction.

Indonesia, home to 290 million people, sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.