Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 38 After 7.7 Quake
The death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia has risen to 38, with two others seriously injured and around 2,000 people evacuated. [1] The Indonesia earthquake has prompted ongoing assessments by rescue teams across affected areas in East Nusa Tenggara province. [5]
Rising Death Toll and Casualties
The death toll from the Indonesia earthquake reached 38 as reported by emergency officials on Saturday. [1] As of 3:00 p.m. local time, two people sustained serious injuries and 11 suffered minor injuries. [1] Around 2,000 residents evacuated independently following the magnitude 7.7 quake and several strong aftershocks. [5] National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto stated the figures during an online news conference. [5] East Nusa Tenggara province governor Melki Laka Lena addressed a press conference in Kupang regarding the human impact. [1] Authorities continue to compile data on the full extent of casualties from the Indonesia earthquake. [1]
Damage to Infrastructure and Buildings
Several buildings and homes sustained damage from the Indonesia earthquake, with some roads cut off or blocked by landslides. [1] One hospital in Maumere was damaged along with numerous community health centers known locally as Puskesmas. [5] Dozens of homes suffered damage ranging from severe to minor according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. [5] Five airports experienced effects limited to terminal buildings with damage from minor to severe, while runways remained undamaged. [5] Two seaports at Reo Port and Maumere Port were affected by the quake. [5] Footage shared on social media depicted parts of structures collapsing into dust and rubble amid the Indonesia earthquake. [1]
Quake Location and Initial Warning
The earthquake centered near Mbay town in Nagekeo Regency struck early Saturday and initially registered at magnitude 7.0 before revision to 7.7. [3] The quake struck 30 kilometers northeast of Nagekeo District at 5:58 a.m. Central Indonesia Time. [3] Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami early warning that was lifted at 7:30 a.m. Western Indonesia Time. [5] The agency urged residents to remain vigilant against potential aftershocks following the Indonesia earthquake. [1] The epicenter lay about 685 kilometers from Bali’s Kuta area. [3]
Evacuations and Ongoing Response
Around 2,000 people evacuated independently in the wake of the Indonesia earthquake. [1] Rescue teams continue assessing casualties and damage across affected areas with further updates expected. [1] National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto confirmed the evacuation numbers during a news conference. [5] Authorities in East Nusa Tenggara province are still compiling data to assess the full extent of the destruction. [1] The health minister reported damage to many community health centers in addition to the one hospital in Maumere. [5]
Air Travel Status to Affected Region
Flights between Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and East Nusa Tenggara operated normally after the Indonesia earthquake. [3] Airport spokesman Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi confirmed that flight operations and airport services ran normally and optimally through at least noon local time. [3] No flight cancellations occurred on routes including Labuan Bajo and Tambolaka served by airlines such as AirAsia, Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air, Super Air Jet and Wings Air. [3] The Labuan Bajo route averages nine daily departures and eight arrivals while Tambolaka has two arrivals and three departures each day. [3] Multiple flights to East Nusa Tenggara province were canceled according to separate reports. [1]
Consular Alerts for Foreign Citizens
The Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar issued a notice on Saturday morning reminding Chinese citizens in its consular district especially tourists in Labuan Bajo to stay on high alert. [1] The consulate urged close monitoring of local earthquake and disaster warnings along with guarding against risks of aftershocks and tsunamis. [1] Chinese citizens were advised to stay away from coastal areas following the Indonesia earthquake. [1] Tourists and residents left their accommodations in Labuan Bajo after the magnitude 7.7 quake. [1]
What to watch next: Rescue teams will continue assessing damage and casualties with authorities still compiling full data on the destruction from the Indonesia earthquake.
