Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 68 As New Quake Hits Flores

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores region early on August 17, Monday, at a depth of around 10 kilometers.

This tremor follows a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Indonesia days earlier. The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake has risen to at least 68 people, with more than 200 others injured. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported 213 injured people and 1,300 homes damaged across East Nusa Tenggara province, with nearly 250 destroyed on Flores alone.

Some 5,000 people were forced into temporary shelters. Thousands of people on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province are waiting for aid, with many communities cut off by the quake. Landslides and damaged roads have blocked access to villages. The province's governor declared a 14-day state of emergency on Sunday. The 7.7-magnitude quake occurred shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Tsunami warnings were issued but later lifted. Authorities have recorded 1,576 aftershocks into Monday, though only a small proportion were felt. Rescue teams are providing medical assistance to hundreds of injured people and digging through debris looking for anyone buried beneath landslides. They focused on three regencies that remained inaccessible: Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo.

More than 900 homes were destroyed and 450 more damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province, forcing about 5,000 people into temporary shelters. The quake affected 6,000 people who were displaced in the Sikka, Manggara, Nagekeo, Bima, and Selayar areas. Additionally, 914 homes, 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities, and 38 government offices were damaged by the 7.7 quake.