A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, triggering severe devastation, blocked roads, and multiple landslides. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus reported that dozens of people have lost their lives, while scores sustained serious and minor injuries following the initial tremor and over 340 subsequent aftershocks. The disaster agency BNPB noted that thousands of residents have been evacuated to makeshift shelters, sports complexes, and tents outside damaged homes and hospitals due to ongoing fears of structural collapses. Over 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed for rescue operations, and local authorities are considering declaring a state of emergency to accelerate relief distribution and recovery efforts.
