Rescuers in eastern Indonesia are racing against time, as they continue searching through the rubble for anyone trapped following the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Flores.
One day after the powerful quake, operations have shifted from the initial assessment of the damage to the most difficult phase: locating potential survivors before time runs out.
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The previous death toll of 47 has already risen, with the latest reports from Indonesian authorities citing at least 51 victims, while dozens of people have been injured. The number is likely to change again as rescue teams gradually reach areas that had remained cut off.
Landslides are hampering rescue efforts
Rescuers are operating primarily in the areas of Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Nagekeo in Indonesia, where landslides have caused new road blockages and made it difficult to reach villages.
The problem is not just the damaged buildings. In several places, entire sections of roads have been buried under dirt and rocks, while power and telecommunications outages are making it even more difficult to coordinate operations.
Search and rescue teams are focusing on the rubble of homes and other buildings, looking for people who may be trapped. In some areas, crews first had to clear away the soil from landslides just to be able to reach those affected.
“We have cleared most of the landslides and reopened roads to villages that had been cut off,” said the head of the search and rescue service in Maumere, noting, however, that communication problems and power outages continue to hamper operations.
Anxiety is particularly high in areas where there are reports of people trapped under the rubble.
Thousands Out of Their Homes – Fear of Aftershocks
Meanwhile, approximately 5,000 Indonesians are in temporary shelters, while many others have chosen to sleep outdoors, fearing that aftershocks could cause further collapses.
In Sika, residents have set up makeshift tents made of tarps outside their destroyed homes, while the injured continue to be transported to makeshift medical stations set up outside hospitals.
The earthquake, which lasted about one minute, was followed by hundreds of aftershocks, keeping fear alive. Authorities are urging residents not to return to damaged buildings and to stay away from dangerous coastal areas.
The initial tsunami warning has been lifted, but seismic activity and the condition of buildings remain a source of concern.
Landslides are cutting off villages
One of the biggest challenges for rescue teams is the geography of Flores. It is a mountainous Indonesian island where landslides can cut off entire communities within minutes.
The Trans-Flores Highway, a road approximately 700 kilometers long that connects the island’s regions, has suffered severe disruptions, making some areas difficult to reach.
Rescuers are therefore working to reopen the roads while simultaneously conducting searches through the rubble. It is a two-pronged effort: to reach those trapped and, at the same time, to restore the roads through which humanitarian aid will pass.
More than 1,300 homes have been reported as destroyed or severely damaged, while schools, health facilities, churches, and other public buildings have also sustained damage.
Relief and Humanitarian Aid for Those Affected
The Indonesian government has deployed more than 3,500 soldiers and police officers to the affected areas, reinforcing rescue teams and efforts to restore access.
At the same time, authorities are distributing rice, ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, blankets, and medicine, as the needs of thousands of displaced people continue to grow.
The biggest challenge, however, remains gaining access to the most isolated communities. As long as roads remain closed and telecommunications are unreliable, the true extent of the disaster is difficult to assess.
Source: iefimerida.gr
