DEATH TOLL RISES TO 51 AFTER POWERFUL 7.7-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES EASTERN INDONESIA

NEWS | At least 51 people have been confirmed dead and approximately 5,000 residents have been evacuated after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday morning.

The earthquake has triggered widespread devastation across the region, damaging more than 1,300 homes and knocking out critical utilities. According to Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), power outages have forced at least 20 gas stations to suspend operations, while severe landslides have blocked primary transit routes, leaving several remote villages temporarily isolated from first responders.

In the hours following the initial shock, panicked residents fled to higher ground as authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning. While the maritime alert was lifted after a few hours when wave levels remained manageable, the region has since been rattled by roughly 341 aftershocks. Fearing further structural collapses, thousands of displaced residents are currently sleeping in makeshift outdoor tents, public sports arenas, or open porches.

In response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the Indonesian government has deployed more than 3,500 military and police personnel to spearhead search-and-rescue efforts and distribute emergency provisions. Officials fear the casualty numbers could continue to climb as emergency teams clear debris to reach victims who remain trapped under collapsed buildings.