More than 20 people, including women and children, are feared dead following an attack on Aper Village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, and has raised fresh concerns among residents, particularly as it is reportedly the third attack recorded in Mangu within the past week.
Local sources said several people were killed in the latest attack, while others are still reportedly missing. One person was also shot in an earlier attack in the area.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident but said the casualty figure was still being established.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said the initial information received by the police indicated that 18 people had been affected.
According to him, however, the number is believed to have increased to more than 20 as information continues to come in from the affected community.
Alabo added that the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Faniyan Ayodeji, alongside other senior officers, was heading to the scene to assess the situation and obtain a clearer picture of what happened.
The attack has intensified concerns over security in Mangu, with residents urging the government to strengthen security operations and take measures to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities.
Authorities are expected to provide more details on the casualties and circumstances surrounding the incident as security personnel complete their assessment of the affected area.
The United Kingdom has praised the overall conduct of the 15 August 2026 Osun State governorship election, describing the poll as peaceful and congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election. However, the UK also identified vote-buying, voter accessibility and delays involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as areas requiring attention ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the British High Commission on Monday night, the UK said observations from its accredited representatives and independent monitoring organisations showed several positive signs in the electoral process.
“This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials. Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day,” the statement read.
The UK, however, pointed to several concerns recorded before and during the election. These included isolated incidents that created tension, as well as continued cases of voter interference and vote-buying involving different political parties.
The High Commission also highlighted challenges affecting some voters, particularly persons with disabilities and elderly citizens.
“We also note continued issues with access for people with disabilities and for elderly people, as well as overcrowding due to the speed and limited provision of BVAS devices for accreditation,” the report added.
The UK urged Nigerian authorities and other stakeholders to carefully assess the challenges observed during the election and use recommendations from civil society organisations to improve future elections.
It said addressing such issues would be important in strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system while promoting transparency, accountability and inclusiveness.
“As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, we note that off-cycle elections benefit from the availability of additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate at a nationwide scale. We nevertheless hope that the experience of the Osun election will help inform further improvements that strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future electoral processes,” the statement read.
The British High Commission also commended Osun voters for their conduct throughout the election, describing their participation as a positive indication of democratic engagement.
It also commended the people of Osun State for their “peaceful and active participation” in the 15 August 2026 governorship election.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and representative of Bayelsa West, has approved the appointment of three senior aides as he moves to strengthen his political, administrative and communication operations.
The appointments take immediate effect and involve veteran journalist and former Sun Newspapers editor Steve Nwosu, Sani Takori and media executive VinMartin Obiora Ilo.
Nwosu has been appointed spokesperson, Takori will serve as a political and administrative adviser, while Ilo takes on the role of Chief Technical Adviser.
Dickson, who previously served as governor of Bayelsa State, said the appointments are intended to improve the coordination of his responsibilities as NDC National Leader and senator.
Nwosu joins the team with more than 30 years of experience spanning print journalism, broadcasting, digital media, political communication and media administration.
He previously held senior editorial positions at The Guardian, ThisDay and The Sun. At The Sun, he rose through several leadership positions, including pioneer editor of Saturday Sun, Editor of Daily Sun, Executive Director of Corporate Services, Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
He is also the founder of Nigerian Xpress Newspaper and currently serves as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Edibofa Communication and Publishing Limited, the company behind People’s FM stations in Abuja and Yenagoa, Universal Television Africa and Nigerian Xpress Newspaper.
Nwosu has also served on the editorial boards of ThisDay and The Sun. He spent eight years on the Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, including a period as treasurer.
Takori, a lawyer and experienced public administrator from Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, has held several senior legal and political positions throughout his career.
His previous appointments include Registrar, Magistrate, Solicitor-General, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Zamfara State. He also represented his constituency in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007.
Takori previously served as National Legal Adviser to the Council of Ulamas and Chief Legal Officer of the Nigerian Electoral Commission. He was also secretary of the presidential campaigns of former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2003 and 2007.
He is a founding member of the NDC and previously served as the party’s Protem National Secretary during its registration process.
Ilo, who has been appointed Chief Technical Adviser, brings nearly four decades of experience in broadcasting, journalism, public service, strategic communication and development consultancy.
An alumnus of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Ilo holds degrees in Mass Communication, Development Studies, and International Relations and Strategic Studies.
He began his broadcasting career with Radio Nigeria, where he eventually became a network newscaster before moving to Africa Independent Television (AIT).
He retired from AIT in 2013 as Director of Special Duties and South-East Operations.
Ilo has also served as Special Adviser on Media to the Enugu State Governor and was a member of the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission.
Before his latest appointment, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Signature TV.
According to the statement announcing the appointments, Dickson selected the three officials based on their professional experience, expertise and track records in their respective fields.
The appointments come as political parties and opposition groups intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The three appointees will support Dickson’s activities in his dual capacity as National Leader of the NDC and a serving senator, with their responsibilities covering political coordination, administration, strategic communication and media engagement.
The appointments therefore give Dickson a team with extensive experience in journalism, law, public administration, political organisation and strategic communication as Nigeria’s political parties position themselves for the 2027 electoral contest.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner.
Rather than immediately announce whether it will challenge the result in court, the party says it is conducting a detailed review of the election results, electoral documents and events surrounding the poll.
The APC Osun State Governorship Campaign Director-General, Oluwole Oke, disclosed this during an interview on Arise News, saying the party believes Adeleke did not secure the highest number of valid votes.
“We do not agree with the declaration of INEC. That’s our position for now. We believe he did not score the highest valid votes,” Oke said.
According to Oke, the party has already begun auditing the election, with its agents directed to submit copies of relevant electoral documents to the APC secretariat for examination.
The documents include Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C, which contain results from polling units and subsequent stages of the collation process.
Oke said the party wants to examine the available records carefully before deciding what action to take.
“When you have a project of this nature with the outcome announced by INEC, we will not be in a haste, nor shall we be under pressure without doing the needful,” he said.
“The needful that we need to do is to evaluate the process, get all the records, review the process, and then form an opinion.”
The APC campaign DG said the party’s assessment would not be limited to the final figures announced by INEC.
According to him, the review will also cover events that occurred before and during the election, including whether they complied with the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.
“There are a lot of issues before us. There are a lot of issues for determination, even on a pre-election basis,” he said.
He added that the party would wait until the review was completed before making further statements.
“Until we do that and form our opinion, we won’t be able to go further to say anything on this.”
The position leaves open the possibility that the APC could challenge the election result through the appropriate legal process, although Oke did not confirm that the party had decided to approach the election tribunal.
Oke also rejected suggestions that internal disagreements within the APC were responsible for the party’s performance in the election.
He argued that disagreements exist within political parties generally and cited the Accord Party as an example.
“If you are talking about internal divisions, even the Accord Party itself is divided,” Oke said.
He pointed to the Accord Party chairman’s public endorsement of the APC candidate, arguing that disagreements within a political organisation do not necessarily prevent members from supporting a candidate during an election.
Oke also defended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze an account belonging to the Osun State Government shortly before the election.
He argued that the anti-graft agency, as a lawful government institution, must have had reasons for taking the action.
“When you have a constitutional body, a lawful agency of government like the EFCC performing their lawful duty, I don’t see anything wrong in that,” he said.
However, Oke commended President Bola Tinubu for directing that the state government’s accounts be unfrozen.
He maintained that the controversy surrounding the account freeze was separate from the APC’s assessment of the governorship election and said he would not comment further without having all the relevant facts.
The APC official also dismissed claims that the party’s control of the Federal Government gave its candidate an unfair advantage during the election.
He argued that political realities at the state level could not simply be determined by which party controls the government at the centre.
“When people allude to the fact that our party is the ruling party and talk about federal might, it doesn’t work like that. Politics is local,” he said.
According to Oke, the involvement of APC governors and other senior party figures in the campaign was simply part of their support for the party’s candidate.
Oke also used the opportunity to criticise the Adeleke administration, particularly its record in education, healthcare and support for farmers.
He argued that the government’s performance would form part of the broader political assessment of the election.
“When you look at this in totality, you can see the failures of government glaring in the citizens’ faces,” he said.
Despite the party’s rejection of the result, Oke urged the public to wait for the completion of the APC’s review before drawing conclusions about its next move.
The party says it will examine the electoral documents and other available evidence before announcing its final position.
The development follows INEC’s declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election. If the APC decides to pursue a legal challenge after completing its review, the dispute could move from the political arena to the election tribunal, potentially extending the contest beyond election day.
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June has risen to 6,438, according to the latest official figures released on Monday, as rescue teams and relatives continue searching for people still missing.
The updated figure was announced by Parliament Speaker Jorge Rodriguez, increasing the previous death toll of 6,301 reported last week.
The two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck near Venezuela’s coast on June 24 and caused extensive destruction. At least 190 buildings were brought down during the disaster.
Nearly two months after the earthquakes, the effects of the disaster continue to be felt across affected communities, with families and rescue workers still searching through the rubble for missing people.
Authorities estimate that at least 60,000 homes were affected by the earthquakes, with about 24,000 considered uninhabitable.
Thousands of people remain in temporary camps as they wait for permanent accommodation. Conditions in some of the camps have become increasingly difficult, particularly following heavy rainfall.
In Caracas over the weekend, heavy rain destroyed some of the tents being used to shelter earthquake victims, further worsening conditions for displaced residents.
The government of Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has promised to provide permanent housing for people whose homes were destroyed or rendered unsafe by the earthquakes.
However, progress has so far fallen short of the government’s target. Authorities had promised to make 4,000 homes available by the end of the year, but only 335 homes had been provided as of the latest update.
The rising death toll and continuing housing crisis highlight the scale of the devastation caused by the June earthquakes, with thousands of survivors still depending on temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance while reconstruction efforts continue.
Nigerian football icon Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha has disclosed that he continues to pay royalties to his brother for the famous nickname that has defined his career, tracing its origins back to their childhood in Enugu.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, the former Super Eagles captain explained that the moniker emerged from his neighbourhood, where numerous boys shared the name Austin, creating confusion among residents trying to distinguish between them.
To solve this problem, Okocha’s friends began calling him “Austin Jay-Jay’s brother,” a reference to his elder brother who already carried the Jay-Jay name. Over time, the tag shortened simply to “Austin Jay-Jay.” While Okocha stopped short of naming which sibling he compensates, his immediate elder brother Emmanuel was widely known by the Jay-Jay name during their youth.
Okocha reminisced about growing up with his brothers on the streets of Enugu, where football served as their primary pastime due to a lack of other recreational options. He recalled that all three siblings played the sport avidly, using the street as their training ground long before organised toys or facilities were available to them.
A student was shot dead at a Catholic high school in the Philippines on Tuesday after another student allegedly livestreamed the attack before taking his own life, authorities said.
The incident occurred at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, a private Catholic institution in Zamboanga City in western Mindanao. It is the second school shooting reported in the Philippines within two months.
Regional police spokeswoman Shella Chang said the suspect entered the classroom where the victim was located before shooting the student. The suspect then reportedly went to the fifth floor of the school building and shot himself.
“What we know so far is that (the shooter) went to the classroom of our known victim. He shot the victim, and after doing that, he went up to the fifth floor and shot himself,” Chang told AFP.
Interior Secretary Victor Remulla separately confirmed that the ninth-grade suspect had livestreamed the incident on social media. The Facebook account allegedly used during the broadcast has since been disabled.
Local media circulated footage from the livestream, which reportedly showed a gun being moved through a school hallway before it was pointed into a classroom and fired. Students in school uniforms could then be seen fleeing while screaming.
Authorities had not immediately established whether other people were injured.
The national police have launched an investigation to determine what led to the attack, where the firearm came from and how it was brought onto the school premises.
The interior ministry said police were working to “establish the motive behind the shooting, determine the ownership and source of the firearm used, and find out how it was brought inside the school campus”.
Police had yet to release the ages of either the suspect or the victim.
Ateneo de Zamboanga University President Father Guillrey Andal confirmed the two deaths and said the institution was “deeply saddened” by the incident.
He said the school was working with investigators to identify those involved and contact their families.
“We are in the process of working with the police for us to be able to identify them, so that we can communicate first with their loved ones,” he told reporters outside the school, while acknowledging that the incident had caused “deep concern and worry”.
Andal also said the school had already been considering additional safety preparations before the shooting.
“Prior to this, our security team had even been preparing a simulation exercise, precisely because we understand the value to everyone — our students, our personnel — of safety.”
School shootings remain relatively uncommon in the Philippines. However, the latest incident follows a June attack at a school in the central part of the country in which three teenage students were killed and 20 others injured.
Following that tragedy, Ateneo de Zamboanga and other schools across the Philippines conducted active-shooter preparedness drills.
Although firearm ownership is subject to strict regulation in the Philippines, authorities have long faced challenges from an illegal market for guns.
The investigation is expected to focus on the circumstances that allowed the weapon onto the school campus, the motive behind the attack and the events leading up to the shooting.
Veteran Nigerian actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has reportedly been diagnosed with stage-four cancer, prompting an emotional appeal from his daughters for urgent medical assistance.
His daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, separately appealed on Instagram for Nigerians, well-wishers and medical professionals with experience in cancer care to help their father. In one of the videos, Lima said the actor’s condition had deteriorated and alleged that hospitals had refused to continue treating him.
Taiwo Hassan, who appeared emotional during the appeal, was also said to have urged Nigerians and well-wishers to help his family find a hospital or medical professionals willing to provide treatment. His family stressed that the appeal was not a request for financial donations.
The reports about his condition have raised public interest in what a stage-four cancer diagnosis actually means, whether it is always terminal, the symptoms that may occur, the factors that increase cancer risk and the treatment options available to patients with advanced disease.
What Is Cancer And What Does Stage 4 Mean?
Cancer is a broad term for a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and can invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body. The disease can develop in almost any organ or tissue.
Cancer is commonly described in stages to help doctors understand how far it has developed. Depending on the type of cancer, staging can take into account the size of the primary tumour, whether nearby lymph nodes are involved and whether the disease has spread to distant parts of the body.
Stage 4 is generally the most advanced stage for cancers that use this staging system. In many cancers, it means the disease has spread from the place where it began to distant organs or tissues. This spread is known as metastasis, and cancers that have spread in this way are often described as metastatic cancer.
For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer in the lungs is still metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer. The original cancer determines its name and many aspects of its treatment.
The liver, lungs and bones are among the sites where some cancers commonly spread, although the pattern varies considerably depending on the type of cancer.
It is also important to understand that stage 4 does not automatically mean that a person has no treatment options or that death is imminent. Some metastatic cancers can be controlled for long periods, and some patients live for years with treatment. The outlook depends heavily on the specific cancer, where it has spread, its biological characteristics, previous treatment and the patient’s overall health.
Symptoms Of Advanced Cancer And How They Can Vary
There is no single set of symptoms that applies to every stage-four cancer patient. Symptoms often depend on where the original cancer developed and which parts of the body have been affected by its spread.
Possible general symptoms can include:
Unexplained weight loss.
Persistent or severe tiredness and weakness.
Loss of appetite.
A new lump or swollen lymph node.
Persistent or worsening pain.
Changes in normal bodily functions, depending on the affected organ.
When cancer spreads to particular organs, additional symptoms may appear. For example, spread to the lungs may cause shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, while spread to the liver may cause jaundice or swelling of the abdomen. Cancer affecting the brain can cause headaches, dizziness, vision problems or seizures, while cancer that spreads to the bones can cause significant pain or fractures.
However, having any of these symptoms does not by itself mean that someone has cancer. Many other illnesses can cause similar symptoms, which is why diagnosis requires appropriate medical assessment, tests and investigations.
What Causes Cancer?
Cancer does not have one universal cause. It develops through changes in cells that can arise from a combination of genetic factors and exposure to cancer-causing agents.
The World Health Organization identifies several important risk factors, including:
Tobacco use.
Alcohol consumption.
Being overweight or obese.
Physical inactivity.
Unhealthy diets.
Exposure to air pollution.
Ultraviolet radiation.
Certain forms of ionising radiation.
Some workplace exposures.
Certain infections, including HPV and hepatitis B and C.
Some cancers also have an inherited genetic component, meaning that certain people may have a higher risk because of genetic changes passed through families. Age is another important factor, as cancer risk generally increases with age due to the accumulation of cellular changes and exposure to risk factors over time.
Cancer-causing infections are particularly important globally. WHO identifies infections such as HPV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among important contributors to cancer, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Can Cancer Be Prevented?
Not every cancer can be prevented, and developing cancer is not necessarily a result of something a person did or failed to do.
However, a significant proportion of cancers can be prevented by reducing exposure to established risk factors. WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated in 2026 that about 37% of new cancer cases in 2022 were linked to preventable causes.
Evidence-based ways to reduce cancer risk include:
Avoiding tobacco in all forms.
Limiting alcohol consumption.
Maintaining a healthy weight.
Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Engaging in regular physical activity.
Protecting the skin from excessive ultraviolet radiation.
Receiving recommended HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations.
Reducing exposure to known occupational and environmental carcinogens.
Following appropriate cancer-screening recommendations.
WHO says prevention, combined with early detection and effective treatment, can substantially reduce the burden of cancer.
How Is Stage 4 Cancer Treated?
Treatment for stage-four cancer is not one-size-fits-all. Doctors first need to establish what type of cancer the patient has, where it originated, how extensively it has spread and what biological characteristics the cancer possesses.
Because metastatic cancer can affect multiple parts of the body, treatment often involves therapies that can reach cancer cells throughout the body.
Depending on the cancer, these may include:
Chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy.
Targeted therapy.
Hormone therapy for cancers that respond to hormones.
Radiation therapy.
Surgery in carefully selected situations.
Other specialised medicines or treatments.
The National Cancer Institute says treatment for metastatic cancer is available for most types of metastatic cancer, although the goals differ from one patient to another. Treatment may aim to slow or stop the cancer’s growth, reduce the amount of cancer in the body, relieve symptoms and help the patient live longer.
In some cases, treatment may also focus on maintaining or improving quality of life.
Why Treatment Is Different For Every Patient
Two people can both have stage-four cancer and still require completely different treatment plans.
Doctors consider factors such as the original cancer type, the locations to which it has spread, previous treatments, the cancer’s genetic or molecular characteristics and the patient’s general health.
The intensity of treatment also depends on how well a person is likely to tolerate it. A treatment that is appropriate for a relatively fit patient may be too difficult for someone who is frail or dealing with other serious health problems.
This is why treatment decisions should be made by a specialist cancer-care team rather than based solely on the stage of the disease.
Can Stage 4 Cancer Be Cured?
This is one of the most difficult questions patients and families face, but there is no single answer.
For many metastatic cancers, doctors describe treatment in terms of control rather than guaranteed cure. The aim may be to shrink or slow the cancer, prevent further progression, relieve symptoms and extend life.
However, some patients with metastatic disease can experience long periods of effective control, while selected patients whose cancer has spread to only a small number of sites may be candidates for more aggressive treatment.
This is sometimes referred to as oligometastatic disease. In carefully selected cases, doctors may use surgery or focused radiation to treat individual areas of metastatic disease.
Therefore, a stage-four diagnosis should not be interpreted as a prediction of exactly how long someone has to live.
The Role Of Palliative Care In Stage 4 Cancer
Palliative care is sometimes misunderstood as treatment that is offered only when a patient is dying.
In reality, palliative care can be provided alongside cancer treatment at different stages of the illness. Its purpose is to relieve symptoms and treatment-related side effects while supporting the patient’s quality of life.
Depending on the patient’s needs, palliative care may help manage:
Pain.
Breathing difficulties.
Nausea and other treatment side effects.
Fatigue.
Emotional distress.
Nutritional difficulties.
Other symptoms associated with advanced cancer.
For patients and families dealing with advanced disease, this form of care can be an important part of comprehensive cancer management.
What Determines A Patient’s Outlook?
A stage-four diagnosis alone cannot determine a patient’s prognosis.
Doctors generally consider:
The type of cancer.
The location of the original tumour.
Where the cancer has spread.
How quickly it is growing.
The genetic and molecular characteristics of the tumour.
How the cancer responds to treatment.
The patient’s age and general health.
Previous treatments and their effectiveness.
This is why statistics about one type of cancer should not automatically be applied to another patient.
What Taiwo Hassan’s Reported Diagnosis Means
In Taiwo Hassan’s case, the public information currently available does not identify the specific type of cancer, the organ where it originated, the locations to which it may have spread, or the treatment plan being recommended by his doctors.
Those details are important because “stage 4 cancer” describes the extent of disease, not one particular illness. Different cancers behave differently and respond to different treatments.
Reports about Hassan’s condition originated from public appeals by his daughters, who said his condition had deteriorated and sought assistance from medical professionals and healthcare facilities.
A recent report also highlighted medical discussion around palliative care following the family’s appeal, underscoring why the exact clinical circumstances and treatment plan should ultimately come from Hassan’s medical team.
Until further medical information is released by the family or his doctors, it would be inappropriate to speculate about the actor’s specific prognosis.
Zambian authorities have confirmed the arrest of several senior opposition figures on the night of last week’s general elections, accusing them of threatening state security as vote counting continued into Monday.
Partial results from Thursday’s presidential and parliamentary polls show President Hakainde Hichilema holding a lead, with the outcome widely viewed as a referendum on whether his economic recovery efforts since the pandemic-era debt crisis are enough to secure him a second term in the copper-rich nation.
Opposition leader and Hichilema’s main challenger, Brian Mundubile, said armed security personnel stormed his residence following the election, describing the raid as an attempt on his life. However, the government offered a starkly different account, stating in a release issued Sunday night that Mundubile was present when 11 people were apprehended after shots were fired at law enforcement officers from within the property, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
According to the statement, those detained were found in possession of military-grade weapons, ammunition, and materials linked to plans for armed insurrection, adding that the individuals had been under surveillance for several months. Six people were named as being in custody, including a spokesperson for Mundubile, with the remainder described as senior members of various political parties.
The arrests come after opposition figures had already been demanding the safe return of several people close to Mundubile who they said had gone missing or been detained. Opposition parties and civil society organizations have accused the government of escalating repression ahead of the vote, pointing to restrictions placed on campaign gatherings and political activity, allegations the government has rejected.
Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia spent another night away from their homes on Monday, as they waited for emergency assistance and feared returning to buildings damaged by the disaster.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck early on Saturday and killed 54 people, while more than 100 others were injured. Rescue officials said there had been no reports of missing people.
The number of people unable to return home had risen to 12,800 by Monday morning, according to Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Those displaced were spread across several communities on Flores Island.
Many residents were preparing to spend a third night outdoors because more than 1,600 aftershocks had been recorded following the main earthquake, according to Indonesia’s geological agency, BMKG.
In the town of Mbay, in Nagekeo Regency near the earthquake’s epicentre, residents were seen sleeping in makeshift shelters constructed from tarpaulins and poles.
One resident, 32-year-old Junaidin, said many homes had become unsafe because of collapsed sections and extensive cracks.
“Our houses are no longer liveable, because many have collapsed and are full of cracks, so we can’t go inside anymore,” Junaidin said outside a makeshift tent where about 30 people were sleeping.
“We only go back home to get water, clothes, pillows, and then we… spend the nights here.”
The disaster has also revived painful memories for residents who experienced another magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Flores in 1992. That earthquake triggered a tsunami and killed about 2,500 people.
Junaidin expressed frustration over what he described as delays in receiving government assistance, particularly as Indonesia marked Independence Day with celebrations in the capital, Jakarta.
“As for help from the government, there hasn’t been any — no tents, no medicine, no food, no drinking water, nothing,” he said.
“Please open your eyes, government. We are your people, we are part of you. So please look after us.”
The Indonesian authorities subsequently began increasing the delivery of emergency supplies to affected communities.
The Indonesian Air Force said it was transporting 13 tonnes of relief materials using two Hercules aircraft and a Boeing aircraft. Helicopters were also being deployed to deliver supplies directly to survivors in isolated areas, according to the state news agency Antara.
The emergency supplies include food, clothing, clean water and medical equipment, while military personnel have been deployed to assist with distribution from key supply centres.
For residents who fled their homes with little or nothing, however, assistance remains urgently needed.
“We fled with nothing. Just the clothes on our backs. We’re victims; we’re going through a disaster,” said 31-year-old Siti Saudah Daso, a mother of three from Mbay.
“They said they would give us something, but there’s no proof. So honestly, we’re a bit upset, disappointed.”
Rescue teams were continuing to search affected areas for anyone who might still require assistance.
Search-and-rescue official Fathur Rahman said teams were conducting both ground and aerial operations.
“We conduct land and air operations from helicopters. There haven’t been any reports on missing persons, but we are still scouring the area just to be sure.”
The earthquake was relatively shallow, with its epicentre located just off the northern coast of Flores, according to geological authorities.
Although the affected communities have few high-rise buildings, the earthquake caused extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure.
BNPB spokesperson Berton said at least 914 houses had been severely damaged, while hundreds of others suffered less serious damage.
Several public buildings were also affected, including schools, healthcare facilities and government offices.
The disruption to education has raised particular concerns for children in the affected communities. Save the Children said more than 8,000 children faced “safety risks and disruptions to their education” as a result of the earthquake.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a vast zone of intense seismic activity extending from Japan through Southeast Asia and around the Pacific basin.
The country has experienced some of the world’s most devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a massive tsunami that killed about 220,000 people across the region, including approximately 170,000 in Indonesia.
That disaster remains one of the deadliest natural catastrophes ever recorded, underscoring the scale of the risks faced by communities living along Indonesia’s seismically active islands.
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