7.7-Magnitude Earthquake in Indonesia Leaves 53 Dead, Thousands Evacuated

The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia yesterday has risen to 53, while thousands of residents have been evacuated from high-risk areas.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the affected region, while the Indonesian government has begun sending and distributing aid.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent announced that they were preparing to deliver humanitarian aid to the affected areas.

The region faces a high seismic risk because it lies on the Flores back-arc thrust fault. This is a major fault system north of the Indonesian archipelago, formed by pressure from tectonic plates converging in the area.

In 1992, the same region was struck by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake that caused extensive damage.

Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high level of seismic activity.

In 2004, Sumatra was struck by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami. As a result, 170,000 people were killed in Indonesia and around 50,000 others in neighboring countries.

It is still considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.