Thousands await aid after deadly Indonesia quake as rescue work conducted

What the report says

Thousands of residents in eastern Indonesia are still waiting for assistance after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday, killing at least 68 people and injuring more than 200, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency. Al Jazeera reported that rescuers continued searching through collapsed buildings and damaged communities on Flores island, where many roads and villages remained cut off.

The quake damaged more than 1,300 homes, including nearly 250 on Flores, and affected schools, health facilities and government offices. About 12,800 people were unable to return home by Monday morning and were staying in temporary shelters or makeshift tents. Some residents told AFP they were sleeping outside because of aftershocks and said they had not yet received enough tents, food, water or medical support.

Indonesia’s government declared a 14-day state of emergency in the province. The air force said it was sending 13 tonnes of aid by plane, including food, clothing, clean water and medical supplies, while helicopters were being used to reach isolated areas. The military has also been assisting with distribution, and officials said an emergency field hospital would be set up in several locations.

The report said medical teams in Ruteng were working from a tent hospital after a facility was damaged, limiting access to testing equipment. Al Jazeera also placed the disaster in context by noting Indonesia’s exposure to major earthquakes because of its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire.