Magnitude 5.9 Aftershock Hits Indonesia's Flores as Quake Death Toll Rises to 53
Xinhua · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A magnitude 5.9 aftershock struck Indonesia's Flores region on Monday, two days after a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit the predominantly Catholic island. The death toll has risen to 53 as rescue teams work to clear landslides that isolated several regencies . The new tremor comes as authorities have recorded at least 995 aftershocks, with thousands of displaced residents spending another night outdoors in fear of further seismic activity .
Key Points
- Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores on Saturday at 10km depth shortly before 6am, with 5.9-magnitude aftershock on Monday
- Death toll reaches 53 after rescue teams recovered six more bodies on Sunday in eastern Indonesia
- Three regencies remain inaccessible due to landslides: Manggarai, East Manggarai and Nagekeo
- More than 900 homes destroyed and 450 damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province, forcing about 5,000 into temporary shelters
- At least 135 people injured and 241 homes damaged in the Flores region alone, according to National Disaster Management Agency
- Tsunami warnings were issued and lifted during the initial quake as residents fled in panic
- Communication disruptions and power outages continue to hamper search efforts across affected areas
Why It Matters
The sustained seismic activity with nearly 1,000 aftershocks demonstrates the instability of the region, complicating rescue operations and keeping thousands of residents in limbo as they cannot safely return to damaged homes . The destruction of more than 900 homes and displacement of 5,000 people will require significant humanitarian response and long-term reconstruction efforts in one of Indonesia's most economically challenged regions .
The sustained seismic activity with nearly 1,000 aftershocks demonstrates the instability of the region, complicating rescue operations and keeping thousands of residents in limbo as they cannot safely return to damaged homes . The destruction of more than 900 homes and displacement of 5,000 people will require significant humanitarian response and long-term reconstruction efforts in one of Indonesia's most economically challenged regions .