An 84-year-old survivor was rescued from rubble three days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, offering hope amid widespread devastation.
In a remarkable survival story following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's Flores island, emergency responders successfully pulled 84-year-old Paulina Pobi alive from her collapsed home after three days. The powerful tremor left at least 73 people dead, over 900 injured, and nearly 60,000 displaced across the affected eastern region.
By Zainab Khan, Senior Disaster Relief Correspondent
Authorities confirmed that Paulina Pobi was discovered beneath the flattened structure of her dwelling three days after the disaster struck. The rescue operation faced severe complications after a major landslide triggered by the seismic activity blocked all access roads to her remote village, delaying initial search and extraction efforts. The event was originally reported by The Guardian on August 20, 2026.
The powerful 7.7-magnitude quake struck Saturday morning off the coast of Flores island, causing massive destruction across eastern Indonesia. Beyond the high fatality toll of at least 73 lives, more than 900 individuals sustained injuries, and nearly 60,000 residents were forced into temporary shelters after losing their homes.
This miraculous extraction highlights the crucial window of opportunity in search-and-rescue efforts even when critical infrastructure and access roads are destroyed. For disaster management teams, Pobi's survival underscores the need for persistent search operations despite heavy land movement and isolated conditions.
Paulina Pobi, an 84-year-old woman, was pulled alive from the remains of her collapsed home in eastern Indonesia. She survived three days under the debris despite a landslide blocking emergency access to her village.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake claimed at least 73 lives and left more than 900 people injured. Additionally, the disaster displaced nearly 60,000 residents across the region.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck off Indonesia's Flores island on a Saturday morning. Coverage of the disaster and subsequent rescue operations was reported by The Guardian on August 20, 2026.
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