Story perspectives

7.7 Quake Kills 68, Displaces 12,800 in Flores

8/19/2026

Summary

Rescue Teams Deliver Aid

The magnitude-7.7 quake on Flores on August 15 killed 68 people and injured over 200.
It damaged over 4,500 homes and destroyed dozens of schools and health centers.
About 12,800 residents were displaced as the governor declared a 14-day emergency.
1,800 military and police personnel and ten aircraft delivered 100 tons of aid.
The response opened two field hospitals in Ruteng and airlifted 13 tonnes in two Hercules planes.

Summary

Chief Yudhi heals

Police chief Yudhi Franata organized trauma-healing sessions for displaced children in Ende regency after aftershocks left many afraid to re-enter homes.
Officer Mieke Suharni led counseling for survivors in Lamba Leda using the Universal Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, sent an August 17 telegram urging continued humanitarian aid.
Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden advised outdoor Masses until churches are verified safe after extensive archdiocesan damage.

History

Historical Context

On May 27 2006 a magnitude-6.4 quake struck Yogyakarta, Java, killing over 5,700 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. Weak, unreinforced masonry and volcanic soils from Mount Merapi amplified shaking, causing extensive damage across the densely populated region. Pope Benedict XVI and the Red Cross later funded reconstruction, echoing the community-driven approach adopted after the 2004 Aceh tsunami.

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Rescue Teams Deliver Aid

The magnitude-7.7 quake on Flores on August 15 killed 68 people and injured over 200.
It damaged over 4,500 homes and destroyed dozens of schools and health centers.
About 12,800 residents were displaced as the governor declared a 14-day emergency.
1,800 military and police personnel and ten aircraft delivered 100 tons of aid.
The response opened two field hospitals in Ruteng and airlifted 13 tonnes in two Hercules planes.

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