Death toll from powerful Indonesia quake rises to 54; Lee Jae-myung offers condolences

At least 54 people have been killed after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores Island, with powerful aftershocks continuing to drive a growing displacement crisis affecting nearly 13,000 people.

According to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the death toll from the quake that hit the northern coast of Flores Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands in eastern Indonesia on Aug. 15 stood at 54 as of Monday (local time), with 135 others injured.

More than 1,300 homes sustained damage, including around 900 that were severely destroyed, leaving 12,800 people displaced.

The US Geological Survey said a magnitude-5.7 aftershock struck Monday morning at 8:46 a.m., about 42 kilometers northwest of Ende, the main town on Flores Island. Authorities said the total number of aftershocks since the main quake has reached 995, approaching 1,000.

The relentless aftershocks and the risk of further building collapses have forced many residents to sleep outdoors in makeshift shelters fashioned from tarpaulins.

Junaidin, 32, who was sheltering in a temporary tent with about 30 others in Mbay village in the Nagekeo district of Flores Island, near the epicenter, told AFP that residents could not return to their homes. "Many houses have collapsed and there are cracks everywhere — they are no longer livable," he said.

In response, the Indonesian government declared a 14-day state of emergency at the provincial level for East Nusa Tenggara, the province that includes Flores Island, on Sunday, and emergency rescue and relief operations are underway.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung posted on X expressing his sorrow over the disaster. "I cannot help but feel deep sadness," he wrote, adding that he extended "heartfelt condolences on behalf of the South Korean government to the victims and bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and livelihoods in this sudden disaster."

Lee also expressed hope that "under President Prabowo's leadership, recovery efforts will proceed swiftly so that residents of the affected areas can return to their peaceful daily lives as soon as possible," and said he "earnestly hopes that as rescue and search operations continue, even one more person will be safely reunited with their family."