Indonesian authorities have confirmed that the death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday has risen to 51. According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), rescue operations are currently underway as thousands of displaced residents seek shelter in designated relief centers.
The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency reported that approximately 9,290 people have been evacuated following the disaster. Search teams are working to reach isolated areas, particularly around Maumere, where landslides and damaged infrastructure have hampered access. Efforts are also ongoing in the Mbai and Manggarai regions to locate individuals still missing and believed to be trapped under debris.
Local government officials are currently evaluating the situation to determine if a formal state of emergency should be declared, a move that would allow for the mobilization of additional federal resources and funding. The impact on local infrastructure has been significant, with state-owned energy company Pertamina reporting that 20 fuel stations have been forced to suspend operations due to widespread power outages.
More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to the affected regions to assist with search-and-rescue missions, evacuation logistics, and the distribution of humanitarian aid. Authorities continue to urge residents to remain cautious as aftershocks and the risk of further landslides persist in the mountainous terrain of the province.
The report provides specific, internally consistent details regarding the earthquake in Indonesia. While it is currently single-sourced, the information aligns with standard reporting on natural disasters and contains no red flags or signs of fabrication.
No corroborating trusted sources found.
Original report: KUNA