Indonesia Flores aftershock: death toll rises to 53 after M5.9 tremor

Death toll rises as rescue operations continue

Rasyid Jafar, a local resident quoted by The Associated Press, described scenes of panic as people fled buildings when the aftershock struck. Emergency shelters have been set up in public spaces, and medical teams are providing treatment to the injured in field hospitals.

The original magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck on Thursday, shaking six regencies on Flores and causing widespread destruction. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said the tremor was felt across the region and triggered landslides in mountainous areas, complicating rescue efforts.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet, making the archipelago prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country experiences thousands of tremors each year, though few cause significant damage.

Indonesia's seismic vulnerability

The quake hit just days before Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations on 17 August, adding logistical challenges to relief efforts. Local authorities have urged residents to avoid unstable structures and to gather in open spaces until inspections are completed.

International aid groups have begun coordinating with Indonesian officials to provide shelter, food, and medical supplies. The military has been mobilized to assist with evacuations and to deliver aid to remote villages cut off by landslides.

On Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in the Muslim-majority country, church organizations have opened their halls to house displaced families. Local priests and volunteers are helping distribute supplies and provide spiritual support to traumatized communities.

Churches and aid groups mobilize

The aftershock, though weaker than the main shock, deepened fears among residents who had already lost homes and loved ones. Many spent Monday night outdoors, afraid to return indoors as aftershocks continued to rattle the region.

Officials have not yet released a full damage assessment, but preliminary reports suggest thousands of buildings were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. Reconstruction efforts are expected to take months, if not years, in the worst-affected areas.

Government pledges emergency funding

The Indonesian government has pledged emergency funding for relief operations and said it would coordinate with international partners for longer-term recovery. President Prabowo Subianto expressed condolences to the victims' families and ordered immediate assistance for those affected.

Seismologists said the magnitude 5.9 aftershock was consistent with the pattern of activity following a major earthquake and warned that further tremors could not be ruled out. Residents have been advised to follow official guidance and to prepare emergency kits.