Indonesia Quake: Death Toll Climbs to 51 as Rescuers Search for Survivors
A 7.7-magnitude quake struck Indonesia's Flores region, killing at least 51 people and displacing thousands. Rescue teams are searching for survivors.
Rescue teams in eastern Indonesia are racing against time after a powerful earthquake struck the Flores region on Saturday, leaving at least 51 people dead and thousands displaced. The magnitude-7.7 quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The tremors triggered panic among residents, who fled their homes as tsunami warnings were issued. The warnings were later lifted. Indonesia's meteorological agency has recorded at least 235 aftershocks since the initial quake.
On Sunday, rescuers were digging through debris, focusing on areas feared to be affected by landslides. The search is concentrated on three regencies that remain inaccessible: Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo, with Manggarai being the hardest hit.
In Ruteng, the capital of Manggarai Regency, injured patients were being treated in tents outside Ruteng Hospital. The tents were set up to accommodate the influx of patients following the disaster.
The quake has affected six regencies across Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in the Muslim-majority nation. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as rescue teams work to reach isolated communities.