Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 53, overshadowing Independence Day

Thousands in Indonesia Await Aid After Flores Quake

Poinews.com – Thousands in Indonesia await aid after a powerful earthquake ripped through Flores island, leaving roughly 12,800 residents stranded outside their homes as of Monday morning. Hundreds of aftershocks continued to rattle the region, forcing families into a second consecutive night of outdoor sheltering. Temporary camps sprang up at schools, police stations, and government compounds where displaced residents waited — often without food, water, or medical supplies — for relief that had not yet materialised.

What Happened: The Quake and Its Human Cost

A shallow 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck just offshore along the northern coast of Flores in the early hours of Saturday, killing 53 people and injuring more than 100. Because the epicentre sat in the sea and the affected settlements contain virtually no high-rise construction, damage was concentrated in low-rise residential homes and public buildings. Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), confirmed that at least 914 houses were severely damaged, with hundreds more sustaining lesser structural harm. Schools, clinics, and administrative offices across the stricken zone also sustained significant damage.

Survivors Describe Waiting Without Support

Junaidin, a resident of Mbay, described his improvised tent sheltering around 30 people. Each night, he said, the family slipped briefly back inside to grab water, clothing, and bedding before retreating to the open ground.

“Our houses are no longer liveable, because many have collapsed and are full of cracks, so we can’t go inside anymore.”

His frustration deepened when he noted that while Jakarta celebrated Independence Day with parades and official ceremony, his community saw no visible government response.

“As for help from the government, there hasn’t been any; no tents, no medicine, no food, no drinking water, nothing. Please open your eyes, government. We are your people, we are part of you. So please look after us.”

Siti Saudah Daso, a mother of three also from Mbay, recalled fleeing with nothing but the clothes on her back and expressed disappointment that promised assistance had not materialised.

“We’re victims; we’re going through a disaster. They said they would give us something, but there’s no proof. So honestly, we’re a bit upset, disappointed.”

Military Airlift and Ongoing Search Operations

Thousands in Indonesia await aid after the initial shock, and the military airlift represents the first tangible response reaching the island. The Indonesian Air Force announced it was transporting 13 tonnes of emergency aid aboard two Hercules transport aircraft and a Boeing jet. Helicopters were additionally being dispatched to deliver supplies directly to survivors in remote settlements, according to the commander of El Tari Air Base in Kupang, as reported by the Antara state news agency. The cargo comprised food, clothing, clean water, and emergency medical equipment, with military personnel deployed to assist distribution at key hubs. Meanwhile, search-and-rescue official Fathur Rahman told AFP on Monday morning that land and air sweeps from helicopters were ongoing. Although no missing-person reports had surfaced, teams continued combing the stricken zone to confirm all residents were accounted for.

Historical Echoes and Children at Risk

For many Flores inhabitants, the tremor