Update: Thailand readies USAR team as Indonesia quake toll reaches 20
Thailand says the Flores earthquake poses no threat at home as USAR Thailand stands by for deployment, while rescuers report at least 20 deaths
- Thailand has placed its national Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team on standby to assist Indonesia if requested.
- The action is in response to a powerful earthquake (magnitude 7.5-7.7) in Indonesia's Flores region.
- The earthquake has resulted in a death toll of at least 20, with rescue efforts ongoing amid damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Thailand has placed its national Urban Search and Rescue team, USAR Thailand, on standby to assist Indonesia if requested after a powerful earthquake struck the Flores region, with rescuers reporting at least 20 deaths.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth had instructed USAR Thailand personnel to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant agencies in case Indonesia seeks international search-and-rescue assistance.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department recorded the earthquake at 4.58am Thailand time on Saturday, August 15, putting its magnitude at 7.5 and depth at 10 kilometres in the Flores region of East Nusa Tenggara province.
The department said the earthquake would have no impact on Thailand.
Later information reported by Reuters put the earthquake at magnitude 7.7. Indonesia’s geophysics agency BMKG recorded the initial earthquake at a depth of 15 kilometres, illustrating differences between preliminary seismic assessments issued by monitoring agencies.
Rescue agency reports at least 20 deaths
A rescue agency in Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, reported that rescuers had found at least 20 people dead, six injured and two trapped beneath rubble.
Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency BNPB was reporting a lower preliminary toll of one death and four injuries while continuing to gather information, meaning casualty figures remained subject to change as assessments continued.
Authorities reported damage to homes, warehouses and government buildings, while around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicentre, evacuated.
Rescue teams had yet to reach parts of Nagekeo because communications were disrupted and landslides blocked road access, prompting another team to attempt to reach the area by ferry.
Strong shaking was reported across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and parts of South Sulawesi, with residents in several areas reporting tremors lasting about a minute.
Tsunami warning lifted after minor waves
The earthquake generated tsunami waves of less than one metre in several areas, prompting a temporary tsunami warning that was lifted about three hours after the tremor.
Several aftershocks followed the main earthquake.
A hospital in Ende moved patients outdoors, while power outages and traffic disruption were also reported in parts of the affected region.
The same broad area was struck by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992 that caused extensive destruction, according to BMKG information cited by Reuters.
Thailand ready to deploy if assistance requested
DDPM said USAR Thailand would continue monitoring developments and remain prepared to provide search-and-rescue support if Indonesia formally requests assistance from the international community.
USAR Thailand was similarly placed on standby for an overseas earthquake response in June, when Jeseth oversaw preparations for a potential rescue mission following earthquakes in Venezuela.
The team is Thailand’s national urban search-and-rescue unit and has previously been prepared for deployment abroad when disaster-affected countries request international assistance.
For now, Thai authorities are continuing to monitor the Indonesian earthquake while maintaining that the event poses no direct impact to Thailand.
