Flores earthquake kills 48, forces 5,000 to evacuate

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake just north of Indonesia's Flores island killed 48 people, injured dozens and forced about 5,000 residents to evacuate after it struck at about 5:30 am on Saturday, August 15.

Authorities issued an initial tsunami warning, which was later lifted. The hardest-hit area was Nagekeo, about 200 kilometers east of Ruteng.

Many residents stayed outside overnight as more than 300 aftershocks raised fears that damaged buildings could collapse. Emergency officials said at least 914 houses were severely damaged and hundreds of others were damaged to a lesser degree. Dozens of public facilities were also hit, including 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities and 38 government offices.

At Ruteng hospital, dozens of patients were moved into tents outside. Melania Nius, 56, said she was at her husband's hospital bedside on the third floor when the quake struck and that debris partly blocked the way out before others helped the family move him outside.

Tonsianus Sambang, 31, who was visiting his mother at the hospital, told AFP that some people jumped out of windows and others ran outside as objects fell. He said patients needed medical supplies and other aid quickly.

The hospital was also treating people injured in the quake. Yoktafiana Sinar, 40, said her house collapsed on her as she tried to protect her grandchild, leaving her with a head wound and a broken leg.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said preparations were underway to bring aid to thousands of people in temporary shelters. The Indonesian government sent 50,000 aid packages weighing a total of 275 tonnes to the area, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered help from the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation satellites.