Jakarta.- Indonesian authorities raised the death toll to 53 and the number of injured to 135 this Sunday following the strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of the island of Flores, in the east of the archipelago, on Saturday, as authorities continue search and rescue efforts.
The Local Disaster Management Agency (BPBD, for its acronym in Indonesian) reported in its latest balance a total of 53 deaths, with fatalities in the districts of Manggarai (25), East Manggarai (20), Sikka (4), Ende (2), Nagekeo (1), and West Manggarai (1).
A total of 135 people were injured in these locations, with more than fifty in serious condition, indicated the BPBD, which did not report any missing persons among the rubble.
“The impact has been significant,” indicated provincial governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena in a statement, who assured that “many citizens have died or been injured; homes and public facilities have suffered damage; and community activities have been interrupted.”
“We are focusing on the search and evacuation of victims, health services, the supply of essential items and shelters, and the restoration of access to affected transport and infrastructure,” he added.
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More than 5,000 residents of the Indonesian island of Flores remain displaced this Sunday, as authorities continue to collect and verify data on evacuated individuals, some in public evacuation centers and others staying at the homes of relatives or acquaintances.
The earthquake, which took place near 6:00 a.m. local time on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday) with the epicenter about 62 kilometers northwest of Ende, the most populous city on Flores, also caused serious material damage on the island. Out of a total of 995 aftershocks, 46 were felt by the population.
According to the latest BPBD report, 154 houses suffered severe damage, 49 moderate damage, and 38 minor damage, although in previous statements the agency had placed the number of affected buildings at more than a thousand.
It is estimated that about 2 million people live on the island of Flores, with Ende and Maumere among its main cities.
Indonesia is located in the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity due to the convergence of several tectonic plates.
