RUTENG — Help could not come soon enough today for thousands of evacuees on Indonesia’s Flores island after a powerful earthquake killed 53 people, injured dozens and damaged hundreds of houses and buildings.

Some 5,000 people fled their homes as the 7.7-magnitude quake hit the island early yesterday, followed by nearly 1,000 aftershocks of varying intensities in the hours that followed, officials said.

People in some areas were left without electricity and telecommunications and at least one emergency access road remained inaccessible.

“We need food, drink, medicines and diapers for the children,” Umri, a resident of Nangahale village on the north coast of Flores, told AFP this morning.

The 55-year-old, who like many Indonesians uses one name, has been hiding out on a hilltop for 24 hours with others afraid to return home.

At Kisol village a few hours away, Bertolomeus Tiga, 42, told AFP his house was one of several collapsed by the quake that also brought down part of the local church.

“The police came yesterday and collected all the data, but there’s no aid yet. The most important thing is probably staple foods. Food and drink... medicine,” he said.

Bertolomeus said villagers were afraid to return to compromised homes and buildings.

“For the time being, we’re still taking refuge outside. We’re still living outside.”