Sikka, Indonesia: Around 5,000 people have been evacuated following a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 51 people, damaging infrastructure and triggering landslides that blocked access to affected communities.

Authorities said on Sunday that the earthquake, which hit East Nusa Tenggara Province on Saturday morning, also left 36 people seriously injured and 77 others with minor injuries.

The quake was followed by approximately 341 aftershocks, making it Indonesia’s deadliest earthquake in recent years.

According to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, more than 3,300 people in the Sikka region either self-evacuated or sought shelter in a sports arena.

Many residents spent the night outdoors amid fears of further tremors. In some areas, people sheltered under makeshift tarpaulin tents after their homes collapsed, while hospitals treated patients in temporary facilities set up outside damaged buildings.

“Almost all of Sikka’s residents didn’t dare stay indoors, so they slept on a porch or a tent outside,” Sikka Deputy Regent Simon Sabandi told KompasTV.

Rescue efforts intensify

The government has deployed more than 3,500 military and police personnel to support rescue and recovery operations, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said emergency teams were able to regain access to parts of Maumere, a port town that had been cut off by landslides triggered by the earthquake.

Authorities said most of those still missing are believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.

BNPB reported that more than 1,300 homes have been damaged.

Infrastructure disruption

The earthquake also disrupted power supplies and fuel distribution.

State energy company Pertamina said 20 petrol stations were unable to operate because of electricity outages.

Local authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and considering declaring an official emergency status for the province, a move that would allow additional funding and resources to be mobilised for response efforts.

Region prone to earthquakes

Indonesia’s geophysics agency noted that the affected area experienced a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused widespread destruction.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions where several tectonic plates meet. The country frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as a result of this geological activity.