Deadly Indonesia Quake Leaves Survivors on Edge as Rescuers Scour Ruins

Rescue crews continued their painstaking search through …

Rescue crews continued their painstaking search through collapsed structures in eastern Indonesia on Friday, looking for anyone still trapped following the powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that claimed dozens of lives and left communities rattled.

Local officials said many residents spent a second night outdoors, too frightened to return to homes that swayed violently or suffered partial damage. Aftershocks, some strong enough to send people running into streets, have kept the region on high alert and complicated relief efforts.

The quake struck off the coast of the Maluku islands, toppling buildings, tearing roads, and triggering landslides in several coastal districts. At least 50 people have been confirmed dead, with the toll expected to rise as remote areas become accessible to emergency teams.

In the hardest-hit town of Mamuju, soldiers and

In the hardest-hit town of Mamuju, soldiers and volunteers worked without pause, using heavy machinery and bare hands to clear debris from a collapsed hospital and a row of houses. Medical teams set up temporary clinics in tents, treating broken bones, cuts, and cases of shock among survivors.

Authorities have warned of the risk of more landslides and urged people to stay clear of unstable slopes. Meanwhile, the national disaster agency has dispatched food, water, and tarpaulins to shelters, though logistics remain a challenge on islands with poor infrastructure.

For many, the psychological toll is as heavy as the physical destruction. "I cannot sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I hear the rumbling again," said one resident waiting for aid. Relief workers are now focusing on both rescue and restoring a sense of safety to a region that remains on edge.