By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- About 2,000 residents have been evacuated by authorities while others sought safety on their own following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara early Saturday.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) acting Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre chief Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan said most residents were moved to safety or fled their homes following the strong tremors and a tsunami warning issued after the main quake.
He said the authorities continuing to assess the extent of its impact across affected areas.
Preliminary assessments showed that 54 houses were severely damaged, nine moderately damaged and 11 slightly damaged, while five health facilities, one educational facility, three places of worship, one warehouse belonging to state food logistics agency Bulog and six government offices were also affected, added the BNPB spokesman.
He noted that Manggarai district in Flores recorded significant damage, with 29 houses severely damaged, nine moderately damaged and nine slightly damaged, while East Manggarai recorded 23 severely damaged houses.
“The impact data is still being collected, verified and validated on the ground. Regional disaster management agencies, the military, police, local governments and other agencies continue to assess damage, verify casualty figures, monitor conditions and address the needs of affected residents,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
The earthquake struck at 4.58 am local time, with its epicentre in the sea about 30 kilometres (km) from Mbay at a depth of 15 km.
It prompted a tsunami warning that the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) later lifted at 7.31 am after sea-level observations showed no further significant rise.
Earlier, the Maumere Search and Rescue Office said the death toll from the earthquake and several strong aftershocks had risen to 20, with six people injured and two others trapped, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, Antara news agency reported that Kupang Geophysics Station chief Arief Tystama said BMKG had recorded 111 aftershocks as of 10 am Central Indonesian Time, with seismic activity continuing and the latest aftershock measuring magnitude 3.8.
The national news agency also reported that 200 base transceiver station (BTS) sites across 10 districts and cities in NTT were identified as experiencing disruptions as of 7 am local time, citing the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry.
Its Digital Infrastructure director-general Wayan Toni Supriyanto said the affected sites represented 16.35 per cent of BTS sites in the affected areas, adding that the ministry was coordinating with mobile operators to restore services.
-- BERNAMA