Grocery stores, gas stations, and various shops reopened on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward normalcy four days after a powerful earthquake devastated parts of Indonesia’s Flores island. The disaster, which struck shortly before 6 a.m. last Saturday, has resulted in at least 70 deaths and left nearly 1,200 people injured. According to the National Disaster Management Agency, the quake caused widespread destruction, impacting at least 11,925 homes, 653 schools, 184 government offices, 182 health facilities, and 173 places of worship.
While immediate food and water requirements have been addressed, the scale of displacement remains high. More than 40,000 people are currently living in tents, makeshift shelters, and evacuation centers. Local governments across seven affected regencies have resumed operations to facilitate post-disaster recovery and address community administrative needs, as confirmed by East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Following the initial shock, authorities recorded more than 2,100 aftershocks through Tuesday, with residents feeling at least 70 of them. Fears of further tremors have led thousands to sleep outdoors. In the port city of Maumere, located in Sikka regency, and the town of Reo in the hard-hit Manggarai regency, residents gathered in large crowds at reopened markets and grocery stores. Shopper Delvina Panjaitan noted that while food aid has been helpful, it does not satisfy all daily needs, making the return of local retail essential.
Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing as teams clear debris and mud from landslides. Fathur Rahman, the search mission coordinator, stated that workers are still cleaning rubble while remaining vigilant for the possibility of discovering more victims. Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is highly susceptible to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The region is still haunted by the memory of a 1992 earthquake and tsunami in Flores that claimed approximately 2,500 lives.
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