Aftershocks and water shortages keep Indonesian quake survivors in limbo

The 7.7-magnitude quake that struck near Flores island on Aug 15 caused 151 fatalities and destroyed or damaged over 46,000 homes, leaving tens of thousands homeless. By Sept 24, about 28,000 people remained displaced, though earlier estimates had been higher. Survivors describe lingering trauma, loss of livelihoods and a chronic shortage of safe drinking water, especially on the tiny island of Palue where storage tanks were shattered.

Authorities from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency say 314 temporary housing units will be ready by late November and more than 2,400 permanent houses are slated for construction. Residents like Maria Onselia and Sahria struggle to earn income after workshops and repair shops were ruined, and they plead for assistance to cover basic needs and school fees. Aftershocks continue, with roughly 15,000 recorded, raising fears of further damage and possible tsunamis.