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Survivors Go Hungry After Earthquakes Kill Dozens in Indonesia

HeadlineAug 17, 2026

In Indonesia, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country Saturday was followed by nearly 1,000 aftershocks, killing more than 50 people. The largest earthquake hit just north of Flores island, followed by a second 6.4 magnitude quake in Indonesia’s western Sumatra island. An estimated 5,000 people have been evacuated as search and rescue teams race to find survivors. Many evacuees have been forced to sleep in the streets, afraid of more aftershocks. Meanwhile, tents have been set up amid the rubble of collapsed hospitals to serve as makeshift emergency rooms to treat injured patients. Landslides have also blocked roads in parts of Flores island, raising concerns of dwindling aid and resources as people go hungry.

Febronia Aselmia: “My husband in the morning took Rohini’s baby and went to the store, and he got us three loaves of bread to share. One loaf of bread — I felt so sorry for my nieces and nephews — had to be divided, little by little. She’s pregnant. I feel so sorry for her, so I only ate a small amount. Even a single banana would be divided among three people. We were desperately hungry.”

This is Indonesia’s deadliest quake since 2022, when an earthquake in West Java killed hundreds.

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