The fatal toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province has climbed to 54, the country's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed on Monday.

BNPB chief Suharyanto stated that official evaluations regarding casualties and physical destruction remain ongoing, as emergency responders work continuously to render medical care to hundreds of wounded victims.

Figures as of Sunday indicate that the severe tremor displaced over 12,000 residents after causing extensive damage to residential properties and community infrastructure.

At the same time, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned that seismic aftershocks are still actively occurring across the affected region.

To reach isolated communities, government agencies have mobilized comprehensive land, maritime, and aerial transport networks, deploying a fleet of 11 aircraft and helicopters to distribute essential relief items and facilitate evacuations in hard-to-reach zones, including Palue Island within Sikka regency.

Healthcare infrastructure has also suffered severe disruptions; following structural damage to Manggarai Regional Hospital that compromised local healthcare delivery, emergency personnel are establishing a makeshift field hospital at Golo Dukal Stadium to manage incoming patients.

Source: Xinhua