A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores Island has disrupted schooling for more than 8,000 children and caused widespread damage to homes and public services, according to Save the Children.
Impact on children and education
Rescue and assessment teams say the quake has killed at least 50 people and displaced thousands, with casualties expected to rise as the full extent of damage is revealed. Authorities and aid agencies report that more than 900 homes were damaged and that essential public infrastructure — including 87 education facilities and 18 healthcare centres — was affected, disrupting services critical to children’s safety, health and learning.
The quake struck the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, and hundreds of aftershocks have continued to unsettle residents. The disaster comes amid other hazards in the region, including drought linked to El Niño and ongoing volcanic risks near Mount Lewotobi, compounding threats to children's well-being and the continuity of education.
Personal accounts underline urgency
Firsthand accounts collected by Save the Children convey the scale of the ordeal. One father, identified as Agus, described the terrifying moments when the ground shook and the family scrambled to safety while living at a school for children with special needs.
“Once we reached the backyard, the shaking grew much stronger. At its peak, I couldn't even stand up. I held onto my child, my wife, and my mother‑in‑law… We managed to hold that position for about a minute because the quake was so violent.”
Agus and his wife, both with visual impairments, said they live and work at the special‑needs school where Euis is employed — highlighting how school buildings themselves also serve as homes and workplaces for some families.
Immediate needs and risks
Save the Children and local partners are carrying out rapid assessments to identify priorities and plan a response aimed at protecting children and restoring learning. The organisation warned that multiple, overlapping hazards increase the urgency and complexity of the response.
- Protection: displaced children are at greater risk of injury, family separation and psychosocial harm.
- Education: damage to classrooms and school closures interrupt learning for thousands.
- Health: impacted health centres limit access to care for injured and sick children.
Save the Children indicated it is coordinating with a local partner to launch humanitarian assistance tailored to the needs of affected children and families.
Context: a volatile region
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and is prone to frequent seismic activity. The Flores quake was followed by a separate 6.9-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra, underscoring the country’s ongoing vulnerability to earthquakes. The Flores quake’s timing against an El Niño‑driven drought and volcanic risks increases concerns about lingering impacts on food security, health and education.
| Reported figures | Number |
|---|---|
| Children facing disrupted education | 8,000+ |
| Fatalities (initial) | 50+ |
| Homes damaged | 900+ |
| Education facilities affected | 87 |
| Healthcare centres affected | 18 |
Humanitarian organisations say they must act quickly to prevent the interruption from becoming long‑term learning loss. Damage to school buildings, loss of teaching materials and displacement of families can all hamper children’s return to school.
What to watch for next
As assessments continue, priorities will include restoring safe learning spaces, providing psychosocial support for children who have experienced trauma, and ensuring access to basic health services. The multiplicity of hazards — earthquake, drought and volcanic risk — means responses must be flexible and coordinated across sectors.
Save the Children’s initial reporting highlights both the immediate human toll and the risk that education disruptions will have lasting consequences unless a rapid, child‑centred response moves swiftly to stabilise learning and protection services.
Authorities and aid agencies have not yet published a consolidated, final toll or a comprehensive recovery plan. Further updates are expected as rescue efforts and damage assessments progress.
