Over half of NTT quake deaths occurred in evacuation shelters, prompting investigation calls
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that 94 of the 142 fatalities from the 7.7-magnitude Flores quake died while sheltering, sparking demands for an independent probe.
During a press briefing, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency disclosed that the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Flores Island on August 15 resulted in 142 deaths, of which 94 occurred in evacuation shelters and 48 were caused directly by the seismic event. The quake triggered brief tsunami alerts and left roughly 150,000 people displaced, though shelter occupancy later decreased to 46,461. Agency spokesperson Berton SP Panjaitan explained that the majority of shelter fatalities were elderly individuals suffering complications from chronic illnesses like strokes and diabetes.
Medical teams have been providing care through health facilities and integrated posts, while the agency continues to supply medicines and equipment to both centralized and communal shelters. The high proportion of shelter deaths has led critics to call for an independent investigation into the handling of the crisis.
Why it matters
The disproportionate shelter deaths raise concerns about disaster management and protection of vulnerable populations.
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