A powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Flores on Saturday, killing at least 54 people, injuring dozens, and damaging hundreds of homes and other buildings. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers and was followed by at least 995 aftershocks, with 46 felt by residents.

Devastation and Relief Efforts

Many residents spent the day mourning victims, searching for loved ones, and waiting for aid to arrive to communities still cut off by the deadly quake. More than 1,300 homes were damaged, with nearly 250 destroyed on Flores alone. Some 5,000 people were forced into temporary shelters, and 135 people were injured, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.

The province’s governor declared a 14-day state of emergency on Sunday. Thousands of people on Flores camped outside collapsed homes under tarpaulin tents overnight, sleeping outside due to the danger of more aftershocks. An Associated Press photojournalist saw widespread devastation across the island, with fallen trees blocking roads, giant boulders hurled downslope by landslides, and homes left shattered or heavily damaged.

More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed across the disaster zone, and 275 tons of aid have been sent to the area, though logistical challenges have slowed deliveries to some hard-hit communities. While some relief has trickled in, survivors say they still need equipment to cook food.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.