A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake has devastated parts of Indonesia’s Flores Island, killing at least 54 people and injuring more than 100, as rescue teams continue to search affected communities amid persistent aftershocks.

The earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early Saturday, August 15, with its epicentre near the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province. The shallow quake triggered landslides, damaged homes and public infrastructure, and forced thousands of residents to leave their homes amid fears of further collapses.

The death toll has continued to rise as emergency workers gain access to areas that were initially cut off by damaged roads and landslides. Authorities have deployed more than 3,500 military and police personnel to assist with rescue and relief operations.

The earthquake caused extensive structural damage across several parts of East Nusa Tenggara. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged, while schools, health facilities, churches and other public buildings were also affected.

Around 5,000 people have been displaced, according to more recent reports, with many survivors sleeping in tents and other temporary shelters because they fear returning to buildings weakened by the earthquake.

The situation has been compounded by continuing aftershocks, with nearly 1,000 recorded by Sunday. Rescue efforts have also been slowed by landslides, damaged roads, power outages and communication difficulties in some of the hardest-hit communities.

Some of the worst damage has been reported in areas including Sikka, Nagekeo, Manggarai and East Manggarai.

In Maumere, one of the island’s major population centres, significant damage was reported at the port, while roads and other transport links were affected by landslides.

Authorities have been working to reopen access routes and reach isolated communities with food, water, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

The Indonesian government and military have mobilised aircraft and other resources to support the relief operation, while medical teams are being deployed to assist injured survivors.

The latest disaster has revived painful memories of the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, which killed about 2,500 people and caused widespread destruction in the region.

Many residents have remained outdoors since Saturday, fearing that additional tremors could cause further buildings to collapse.

Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area characterised by intense seismic and volcanic activity resulting from the movement of tectonic plates.

The latest earthquake is among the country’s deadliest in recent years and has prompted authorities to focus on rescue operations, emergency shelter and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.

With aftershocks continuing and assessments still underway, officials have warned that the full extent of the destruction may not yet be known.