health
Indonesia earthquake death toll nears 70 as thousands wait for help on country's Independence Day
Reo, Indonesia — Thousands of people were still waiting for aid on the Indonesian island of Flores as the country marked its 81st Independence Day on Monday, days after a powerful earthquake killed at least 68 people, injured more than 200 others and damaged hundreds of homes and other buildings.
TL;DR
- A 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least 68 people and injured over 200 on Flores island, Indonesia.
- Thousands of people are still awaiting aid as communities remain cut off by damage and landslides.
- Over 1,300 homes were damaged, with nearly 250 destroyed on Flores alone.
- A 14-day state of emergency has been declared in the affected East Nusa Tenggara province.
- Authorities have recorded 1,576 aftershocks following the main quake.
- Logistical challenges and landslides are slowing aid deliveries, with military and police personnel deployed.
- Emergency field hospitals have been set up due to damage to local medical facilities.
- The disaster has brought back painful memories of a devastating 1992 earthquake and tsunami on Flores.