Indonesian quake leaves thousands homeless as aid lags — The Debate

Thousands of residents on Flores island are sheltering in public buildings while waiting for emergency assistance.

In eastern Indonesia, thousands of quake‑displaced residents are sleeping in schools and police stations while they wait for assistance.

The 7.7‑magnitude tremor early on Saturday killed 53 people and injured more than 100. Rescue officials say there are no reports of people missing.

By Monday morning, the number of people unable to return to their homes had risen to 12,800, spread across several towns on Flores island, spokesperson Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan of the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) told the news agency.

Many Flores inhabitants slept outside for a second night in a row, afraid to go home as hundreds of aftershocks rattled the area.

"Our houses are no longer liveable, because many have collapsed and are full of cracks, so we can't go inside anymore," Junaidin, a resident of Mbay, said outside his self‑made tent that was sheltering about 30 people.

"We only go back home to get water, clothes, pillows, and then we…spend the nights here."

Many residents recall the 1992 quake that also struck Flores, which triggered a tsunami and killed around 2,500 people.

"We're on our own here," said Junaidin, who, like many Indonesians, has a single name.

He expressed frustration at what he sees as a slow response while the nation celebrated Independence Day in Jakarta.

"As for help from the government, there hasn't been any; no tents, no medicine, no food, no drinking water, nothing," he added.

The Indonesian Air Force said it was airlifting 13 tonnes of emergency aid in two Hercules transport planes and a Boeing, and deploying helicopters to reach isolated communities, according to the commander of El Tari Air Base in Kupang.

The aid includes food, clothing, clean water and medical equipment, with military personnel assisting distribution at key hubs.

"We fled with nothing. Just the clothes on our backs. We're victims; we're going through a disaster," said Siti Saudah Daso, a mother of three from Mbay.

"They said they would give us something, but there's no proof. So honestly, we're a bit upset, disappointed," she added.

Rescuers continue to search the area. Search and rescue official Fathur Rahman told reporters that land and air operations are ongoing and that there have been no missing‑person reports, but teams are still combing the zone to be certain.

The epicentre of the shallow quake was located just off the north coast of Flores, geological authorities said.

At least 914 houses on the island were severely damaged and hundreds more suffered lesser damage, according to the disaster agency spokesperson.

Dozens of public buildings, including schools, health facilities and government offices, were also affected.

The NGO Save the Children warned that more than 8,000 children face safety risks and disruptions to their education.

The disaster has drawn attention from the European Union, which is monitoring the situation because many EU tourists were on the island during the holiday period. European humanitarian groups are preparing additional supplies, echoing the EU's assistance after the 1992 quake. The event also highlights the importance of the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism in fostering regional cooperation on disaster risk reduction.