struck Indonesia pleads for support as number of injured and displaced rises
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Flores, resulting in at least 70 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Local medical staff are struggling to manage the influx of patients due to damaged infrastructure and a lack of immediate support.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of remote regions to natural catastrophes and the critical need for rapid humanitarian and medical aid deployment.
Melinda Bella is a young doctor in East Manggarai, a regency on the island of Flores. ( ABC News )
A young doctor says she has felt overwhelmed tending to injured patients by herself in a makeshift hospital on the earthquake-struck island of Flores.
At least 70 people were killed and almost 1,200 others injured in the powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake.
Communities are pleading for more support as the number of people injured and displaced continues to climb.
Link copied Share Share article As the scale of Saturday's deadly earthquake in eastern Indonesia emerged, a post on social media went viral.
"I am physically unable to handle this many patients alone," wrote Dr Melinda Bella, a young doctor in East Manggarai, a regency island of Flores.
"Please help," she said, ending her message with emojis of tears and prayer hands.
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