Indonesia earthquake toll reaches 53 as aftershocks continue

The death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in southeastern Indonesia has risen to 53, with 137 people injured, the country’s National Disaster Management Agency has stated.

The agency said the earthquake damaged around 2,400 homes, including 1,500 that sustained severe damage, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

A total of 5,488 people have been accommodated at evacuation centres, while another 171 people evacuated independently.

The August 15 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara province damaged 87 educational institutions, 50 religious sites, 76 government facilities and various other public facilities.

According to officials, as of 7 a.m. today, 1,598 aftershocks had been recorded since the earthquake, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 6.2, while the weakest measured 1.3.

Of the aftershocks, 54 were felt by residents.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov