A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck eastern Indonesia, leaving at least 53 people dead and more than 130 injured as rescuers race to reach devastated communities.
The earthquake hit Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara on Saturday, triggering landslides, collapsing buildings and blocking major roads. Thousands of residents have been forced from their homes, with around 5,000 people evacuated into temporary shelters and emergency sites.
In the hardest-hit areas, rescue teams are searching through rubble and debris for survivors, while some communities remain difficult to reach because of landslides and damaged infrastructure.
Hospitals have also been stretched by the disaster, with seriously injured patients treated in emergency tents and other makeshift medical facilities.
The response has been further complicated by intense seismic activity, with nearly 1,000 aftershocks recorded since the main earthquake.
Indonesia has deployed more than 3,500 military and police personnel to support search, rescue and relief operations. Authorities are delivering food, medical supplies and shelter while assessing the full extent of the destruction.
With rescue efforts still underway, officials warn that unstable structures and continuing aftershocks could make the recovery operation even more dangerous.
