Flores Earthquake Leaves Nearly 28,000 People Displaced

Flores — Nearly 28,000 people remained displaced as of September 24 after an earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara, while more than 46,000 houses had been damaged, The Jakarta Post reported on September 28.

The figures were provided by National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Berton Panjaitan, according to The Jakarta Post. The report said residents continued to face shortages of clean drinking water and difficulties securing food.

In Flores’s Sikka district, resident Maria Onselia said she had struggled to find buyers for the fabric she weaves. She said water had to be bought before rice could be purchased during the dry season.

Why the continuing displacement matters to Komodo readers

The report places the continuing humanitarian strain in Flores within East Nusa Tenggara, the province that also includes Labuan Bajo and the Komodo area. Water shortages and damaged homes affect communities across a region connected by transport, supplies and public services.

The earthquake also left residents dealing with repeated aftershocks and disrupted water sources, according to reports carried by The Jakarta Post and The Straits Times. The Straits Times said many survivors were still living in tents because of trauma and continuing tremors.

The Jakarta Post reported that authorities were working to restore drinking-water supplies and provide temporary housing. It did not state a completion date for those efforts.

Sources

• The Jakarta Post — established Indonesian news organisation
• The Straits Times — established regional news organisation
• abc.net.au