Indonesia has recorded 2,119 aftershocks since a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck the country on Saturday, as authorities warned that heightened seismic activity could continue for several more weeks.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said the aftershock sequence could persist for another three to four weeks, according to the Jakarta Globe.
Wijayanto, the agency’s director of earthquake and tsunami affairs, said the aftershocks had ranged between magnitude 1.3 and 6.2. Twenty-four measured above magnitude 5, while 70 were strong enough to be felt by residents.
Saturday’s earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara, home to the popular tourist destination of Labuan Bajo, causing extensive damage across the region.
The death toll has now risen to 68, while 213 people have been injured, according to state-run Antara News.
More than 12,000 people remained displaced as of Monday, with the National Disaster Management Agency saying many residents were afraid to return home because of continuing aftershocks.
Damage assessments have identified at least 914 houses as severely damaged, 126 as moderately damaged and 317 as lightly damaged. The earthquake also affected 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities and 38 government offices.
Several tourist destinations on Flores island have been temporarily closed for safety inspections, including Rangko Cave in West Manggarai, Wae Rebo Traditional Village in Manggarai and Kelimutu National Park in Ende.
Indonesia experienced further seismic activity on Tuesday when a separate earthquake struck the Batu Islands area of North Sumatra. The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre measured the quake at magnitude 5.8, while the US Geological Survey recorded it at magnitude 5.6.