53 dead in Indonesia quake as rescue efforts continue

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Indonesia's eastern islands has risen to 53, authorities said on Sunday, as rescuers searched for survivors trapped beneath landslides and collapsed buildings.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara Province on Saturday, followed by more than 300 aftershocks. At least 64 people were injured, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, making the disaster the country's deadliest earthquake since a 2022 tremor in West Java Province killed hundreds of people.

Most of the deaths and injuries were reported on Flores, one of Indonesia's major islands, where the northern parts of five districts were hardest hit. The rescue agency said 24 fatalities were in Manggarai district and 20 in neighboring East Manggarai.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said the damage was particularly severe in northern Flores. Many residents had remained outdoors for fear of returning to damaged homes and were in urgent need of tents, food and other essential supplies, he said.

The provincial government declared a state of emergency on Saturday as emergency crews continued rescue and relief operations across the quake-hit areas.

The earthquake's epicenter was offshore, about 30 kilometers northeast of central Flores, at a depth of 15 kilometers.

Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, said rescue operations were continuing despite difficult conditions, including landslides and disruptions to telecommunications and electricity in some areas, particularly in East Manggarai and Nagekeo.

Rescue teams were using helicopters to evacuate victims and deliver relief supplies to the affected areas, he said.

He urged local residents to report anyone in need of assistance or evacuation so rescue teams could reach them promptly.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered ministers and other relevant officials to accelerate relief efforts by sending dozens of tons of supplies to Flores and deploying joint national teams to the disaster zone.

He also sent food packages to earthquake-affected communities. The supplies arrived on Sunday in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara Province, according to Indonesia's national news agency Antara.

Berton SP Panjaitan, acting head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Center at the National Disaster Management Agency, said a military aircraft had transported the first batch of emergency relief supplies ordered by Prabowo.

A total of 1,725 basic food packages were distributed to affected areas in Sikka and Ende districts.

On Saturday, another 3,200 packages were delivered to Labuan Bajo, a town on Flores Island.

Prime Sarmiento in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.