Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Kupang, NTT – The death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province early Saturday has risen to 14, with dozens of homes and public facilities damaged, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.
The latest figures, updated through 12:30 p.m. Jakarta time, showed six deaths in Manggarai district, five in East Manggarai and three in Sikka.
Two people were seriously injured, and 11 suffered minor injuries across Sikka, Nagekeo, Manggarai, and East Manggarai districts, BNPB said. The figures remain provisional as authorities continue field assessments, verification, and validation.
The earthquake also displaced about 2,000 people, who evacuated independently after experiencing strong shaking and following a tsunami warning issued after the main quake. Around five families were also reported to have been affected.
BNPB recorded 54 homes as heavily damaged, nine moderately damaged, and 11 lightly damaged.
Public infrastructure was also affected, including five health facilities, one school, one Bulog government rice warehouse, three places of worship, and six government offices.
Manggarai was among the hardest-hit areas, with 29 homes heavily damaged, nine moderately damaged, and nine lightly damaged. Five health facilities and one school were also damaged.
In East Manggarai, 23 homes were heavily damaged. Nagekeo recorded two heavily damaged homes, one moderately damaged home and two lightly damaged homes, as well as two lightly damaged places of worship and five affected government offices.
Traffic congestion and power outages were reported in Nagekeo following the earthquake.
The main earthquake struck offshore at 4:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter at a depth of 15 kilometers, about 38 kilometers northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo district, according to BNPB.
Strong shaking lasting about a minute was reported in Nagekeo, Sikka, West Manggarai, and Bima City in the neighboring West Nusa Tenggara province. The earthquake was also felt in parts of South Sulawesi, including Jeneponto, the Selayar Islands and Maros.
The earthquake initially triggered a tsunami warning, prompting authorities to evacuate residents in coastal areas to higher ground.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) later ended the tsunami warning at 7:31 a.m. after sea-level observations showed no significant and dangerous rise in water levels.
At least four aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 5.5 to 6.2, were recorded following the main earthquake. None had the potential to trigger a tsunami, BNPB said.
Disaster management agencies, the military, police, and local governments are continuing rapid assessments, recording casualties and damage, monitoring affected communities, and assisting.
In Manggarai, authorities have identified urgent needs, including 15 evacuation tents, 12 command-post tents, 20 platoon tents, 30 tons of rice, medicines, 1,000 portable beds, 1,000 blankets, and 1,000 sleeping mats.
Authorities also require 500 kitchen equipment packages, 12 water tanks with a capacity of 2,200 liters each, 10 5-kVA generators, 10 handheld radios, and 100 flashlights.
BNPB urged residents to remain calm and avoid unverified information. Residents were also advised to stay away from cracked or damaged buildings because of the risk of further collapse during aftershocks.
People in coastal areas were urged to continue following official updates from local authorities and BMKG. Although the tsunami warning has ended, residents should remain alert to aftershocks and other hazards caused by earthquake damage.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-14-after-magnitude-77-tremo