▲ Damage from strong earthquake on Indonesia's Flores Island
Following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that recently struck Indonesia's Flores Island, the death toll has risen to 100, with the number of displaced people surging to 180,000.
According to Reuters and other foreign media outlets on the 25th local time, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced that 100 people have died and 1,603 have been injured so far from the earthquake that struck off the northern coast of Flores Island on the 15th.
In addition, the earthquake has damaged 73,818 houses and 1,915 public facilities, while the number of displaced people seeking shelter has rapidly increased to 180,000.
BNPB Chief Suharyanto stated during a press conference that the death toll increased as several severely injured victims died while receiving treatment, adding that aftershocks are continuing.
More than 6,400 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.1 to 6.2 were recorded from the initial magnitude 7.7 earthquake through the previous day.
Chief Suharyanto said, "There have been as many as 140 earthquakes strong enough for residents to feel," adding, "Residents are afraid to return home and are staying in evacuation shelters."
However, he noted that aftershocks have decreased over the past few days and urged residents not to believe false information regarding more powerful earthquakes or tsunamis.
The BNPB delivered 1,000 tons of relief supplies to the affected area by the 23rd, including tents, mattresses, food, and hygiene products, and plans to provide an additional 500 tons of relief supplies.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecasted that aftershocks will continue for the next 3 to 4 weeks before conditions stabilize.
Earlier, at around 5:58 AM on the 15th, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the northern coast of East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia's eastern Lesser Sunda Islands.
Indonesia, home to 290 million people, frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Banda Aceh in Aceh province, northern Sumatra, triggering a massive tsunami that killed 170,000 people.
On Flores Island, which is home to 2 million people, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake followed by a tsunami in 1992 resulted in approximately 2,500 deaths.
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