Indonesia Declares Emergency After Deadly 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake

Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara declares 14-day emergency response after 7.7-magnitude quake

Jakarta, Aug 16

The emergency response period runs from August 15 to August 28, said the decree issued by Melki Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province.

The earthquake was centred about 30 km northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo Regency at a depth of 15 km, according to the decree.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said the earthquake and 341 aftershocks had left 51 people dead and 113 others injured, reports Xinhua news agency.

A total of 3,356 people were taking refuge in Sikka, 2,078 in Manggarai and 500 in Nagekeo, while others were displaced in Bima and Selayar.

The quake damaged 914 houses heavily, 126 moderately and 317 lightly. It also damaged 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities and 38 government offices.

The provincial government said the emergency response status was aimed at facilitating disaster response, evacuation, relief distribution and recovery efforts in affected areas. '

Melki Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a press conference in Kupang on Saturday that some roads were cut off or blocked by landslides, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The BNPB has dispatched food and other relief supplies to the affected areas, including supplies from a logistics warehouse in East Flores Regency. Relief supplies are also being sent from Jakarta via the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.

Following the earthquake, several flights in East Nusa Tenggara province were cancelled.

The earthquake, centred near Mbay town in Nagekeo Regency, struck early Saturday and triggered a tsunami warning that was later lifted by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

Rescue teams are continuing to assess casualties and damage across the affected areas.

— IANS