Aid shortages and fears of starvation as Indonesia reels from deadly earthquake
Starvation Fears and Collapsed Hospitals Grip Indonesia's Flores After 7.7 Quake
Ninoda.com – The death toll from Saturday's powerful earthquake on the Indonesian island of Flores has climbed to at least 68, with roughly 5,000 residents left without homes. The 7.7-magnitude tremor, which struck at a shallow depth of 15 km just before 06:00 local time (23:00 GMT Friday), marks the nation's most lethal seismic event since hundreds perished in West Java in 2022. Landslides have severed key access routes, and in several districts the flow of food, water, and medical aid has ground to a halt.
A Single Doctor Faces Hundreds of Wounded
In the devastated village of Dampek, hundreds of injured residents are being treated by one physician. Dr Melinda, the sole doctor at the now-ruined Dampek Health Centre, issued a desperate plea on Sunday describing her inability to manage the volume of casualties arriving continuously.
"I am the only doctor here with hundreds of victims. I truly cannot cope."
"I have not had any rest since yesterday because casualties keep arriving around the clock."
Her situation mirrors conditions across the island, where aftershocks continued to shake temporary shelters even two days after the main shock. Tents pitched among the wreckage of destroyed hospitals now function as improvised triage areas, and medical supplies are running dangerously low.
Survivors Sleep Under Open Skies
Thousands of displaced residents are spending scorching afternoons and freezing nights outdoors, terrified that another tremor will bring down whatever structures remain. In Labuan Bajo, the westernmost town on Flores and the gateway to Komodo National Park, families have abandoned damaged homes for green emergency tents.
"The shaking was very scary. My house almost collapsed,"
said Anastasia Imad, a farmer who set up camp beside her ruined dwelling.
"We were worried that the aftershocks would collapse the house while we were sleeping."
Herry Kabut, editor-in-chief of the local outlet Floresa Media, described a population scattered across hillsides with no official evacuation guidance.
"Each resident has set up their own evacuation post."
"So far, many basic necessities such as [basic foodstuffs] and clean water are in great demand."
"People have no idea where to evacuate. There's been no government advice. Many have fled to the hills and are starving."
Rescue Teams Navigate Scarred Roads
Search-and-rescue crews, alongside volunteer medics, are pushing through landslide-choked roads to reach isolated communities. Dr Alhamzah, based at Lalang Health Centre in East Manggarai, told the BBC on Monday that regional hospital teams had finally begun delivering aid to areas like Dampek, treating severely wounded patients with whatever supplies they could carry.
"If a patient's condition is critical, we will refer them to the hospital in Ruteng instead, which is about four hours away,"
he explained. Yet Ruteng's own Regional General Hospital is itself in crisis. Its operating theatre, delivery room, pharmacy, and laboratory were all rendered unusable when the building's roof caved in.
"We heard that medical assistance would be provided, but nothing has arrived yet,"
said Rista Mari, a public relations officer at the hospital.
"We hope that assistance will arrive soon."
In Ngada Regency, resident Charles Abar reported that local health facilities and equipment had suffered severe damage and that, as of Sunday evening, no outside medical help had reached the area.
Scale of Destruction Still Emerging
Early figures from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency indicate that over 1,000 dwellings were damaged, alongside dozens of clinics, schools, and government buildings. Medical teams remain engaged in counting casualties, and the full extent of destruction is still being assessed.
The island sits at the junction of three major tectonic plates, making Indonesia perennially vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For the survivors of Flores, the coming days will test whether aid can outrun the hunger and tremors still gripping the island.
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