'Almost a miracle': 84-year-old rescued alive from rubble three days after Indonesia earthquake
Three days after a powerful earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores island, rescuers pulled an 84-year-old woman alive from her collapsed home. The disaster has killed at least 73 people and displaced nearly 60,000.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores island on Saturday, killing at least 73 people, injuring more than 900 and leaving nearly 60,000 people displaced.
A landslide caused by the quake cut off access to Nitunglea village, where 84-year-old Paulina Pobi lived. She remained trapped beneath the collapsed bamboo walls of her home for days before being found and evacuated on Tuesday.
Local police official Bambang Supeno confirmed to media that the woman had been safely evacuated and taken to the nearest health centre for treatment. Another local official, Rudolfus Riba, told Agence France-Presse that because the woman is paralysed and unable to move or speak, her family only located her on the fourth day. He said she had no injuries, only weakness from days without food or water, calling the outcome almost unbelievable.
Relief efforts continue
Shops and petrol stations on the island have gradually begun reopening, though debris still covers many streets and search teams continue combing the rubble for possible victims. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency said 398 tons of aid — including food, tents and temporary shelters — has reached affected communities.
Distribution has been slowed by Flores' mountainous terrain and roads damaged by the shallow quake, prompting the government to deploy additional military aircraft, ships and personnel to reach remote areas.
More than 3,000 aftershocks have been recorded since Saturday, with at least 86 strong enough to be felt by residents, leaving many too afraid to return to damaged homes. A regional police chief said displaced residents were suffering not only physical harm but also psychological trauma, particularly children.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent seismic and volcanic activity. In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed roughly 220,000 people across the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia.
