Death Toll Hits 53 in Powerful Magnitude 7.7 Flores Earthquake as Government Ramps Up Emergency Relief

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — At least 53 people are confirmed dead and 135 others injured after a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck northeast of Nagekeo Regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, prompting an emergency response mobilization across the island of Flores.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the country’s central disaster management authority, confirmed that the fatalities concentrate heavily in Manggarai Regency with 25 deaths and East Manggarai Regency with 20 deaths. Sikka Regency reported four fatalities, Ende recorded two, while Nagekeo and West Manggarai logged one death each.

The shallow tremor struck at an approximate depth of 9.3 miles (15 kilometers), triggering widespread structural damage across central and western Flores. Manggarai Regency immediately declared a formal 90-day emergency response status, while neighboring regencies and the provincial government move to finalize identical administrative decrees.

The sudden disaster cripples a strategic regional economic corridor and strains national emergency response resources. Rapid deployment of state relief funds, logistics, and critical utility restoration will determine how quickly local supply chains recover and whether secondary humanitarian shocks can be contained across eastern island clusters.

Humanitarian Toll and Displacement Mount

Medical teams across regional healthcare facilities are treating 135 injured citizens, with severe physical trauma concentrated in East Manggarai and Manggarai regencies. Preliminary structural field assessments indicate that 154 residences suffered severe structural collapse, 49 units sustained moderate damage, and 38 homes experienced light damage.

Displacements continue to mount as thousands of residents seek safety in centralized public camps and independent roadside shelters. Disaster officials noted that ongoing aftershocks are reigniting psychological trauma tied to the deadly 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, prompting families with undamaged homes to remain in open-air safe zones.

"Visual reports received at our emergency operations center indicate that communities remain in evacuation points not only due to direct building destruction, but also because aftershocks keep psychological trauma elevated," said BNPB Deputy for Disaster Prevention Abdul Muhari during a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Sunday.

Government Mobilizes Airbridge and Security Forces

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that the central government completed multiple air sorties deploying 27 metric tons (29.76 US tons) of emergency cargo utilizing Indonesian Air Force Hercules heavy-transport aircraft. The shipments arrived on the disaster's first day alongside an initial presidential aid batch of 5,000 staple food packs.

President Prabowo Subianto instructed key cabinet ministers—including human development, home affairs, public works, and disaster management leadership—to oversee field interventions on site. The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police deployed over 3,500 security and relief personnel to execute immediate search, evacuation, and medical triage operations.

"The government will not stand by idly. Interventions must proceed swiftly, collaboratively, and in tight coordination so affected communities can rebound and resume their livelihoods," emphasized Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment A. Muhaimin Iskandar during an official briefing on Sunday.

Critical Infrastructure and Power Grid Restoration

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo inspected damaged transport arteries during an emergency coordination meeting in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai. Regional road task forces are clearing obstructed highways and reinforcing damaged bridge networks to ensure unobstructed transit for humanitarian relief convoys.

State electricity utility PT PLN (Persero) achieved a major operational recovery by restoring all 11 high-voltage transmission substations across Flores to 100% capacity within 12 hours. The regional power system currently maintains 111 megawatts (MW) of supply capacity, surpassing the active load demand of 95 MW.

"From the generation side, our primary supply capacity is fully secured and more than sufficient to serve total demand," stated PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo during an on-site inspection of the Rangko Substation on Sunday. Engineering teams are concentrating ground resources on replacing snapped utility poles and restoring final distribution lines across hard-hit Nagekeo and Reo.