Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia are sleeping in makeshift camps as they await emergency assistance following the disaster that killed 54 people and injured more than 100.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck early Saturday near the northern coast of Flores Island, damaging homes and public buildings and forcing residents to seek shelter in schools, police stations and government offices.
According to a report by AFP, the number of people unable to return to their homes had risen to about 12,800 by Monday, with many residents preparing to spend a third night outdoors because of fears triggered by more than 1,600 aftershocks recorded in the area.
Residents in Mbay, the town closest to the epicentre, said many houses had developed serious cracks or collapsed, making them unsafe to occupy.
One resident, Junaidin, said about 30 people were staying in a makeshift tent after fleeing their damaged homes, while expressing frustration over what he described as delays in receiving tents, food, medicine and drinking water.
The Indonesian Air Force said it was transporting 13 tonnes of emergency supplies using two Hercules aircraft and a Boeing, while helicopters were being deployed to deliver aid to isolated communities.
The military has also deployed personnel to assist with the distribution of relief materials in key locations.
Rescue teams continued searching affected areas by land and air, although officials said there were no reports of missing persons.
The National Disaster Management Agency said at least 914 houses were severely damaged, while hundreds of others suffered varying degrees of damage. Several schools, health facilities and government offices were also affected.
Save the Children said more than 8,000 children were facing safety risks and disruptions to their education as a result of the earthquake.
The disaster has also revived painful memories of the 1992 Flores earthquake, which triggered a tsunami and killed about 2,500 people.
Indonesia is frequently affected by earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for intense seismic and volcanic activity.
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