Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia awaited aid yesterday as they camped out at schools, police stations and government offices.

The 7.7-magnitude quake early on Saturday killed 68 people, according to an updated toll, and injured more than 100. Rescue officials have said there were no reports of people missing.

The number of people unable to return to their homes had risen to 12,800 by yesterday, dispersed among several towns on Flores island, Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, spokesman for Indonesia’s BNPB national disaster agency, told AFP.

Many Flores inhabitants were preparing to sleep outside for a third night, afraid to go home as more than 1,600 aftershocks have rumbled through the area, according to the BMKG geological agency.

AFP saw several residents of the small town of Mbay, in Nagekeo regency nearest the epicentre, camped out in makeshift tents they had erected using tarpaulins and poles.

“Our houses are no longer liveable, because many have collapsed and are full of cracks, so we can’t go inside anymore,” Mbay resident Junaidin, 32, said outside a self-made tent that was sleeping about 30 people.

“We only go back home to get water, clothes, pillows, and then we... spend the nights here.”

Many Flores residents have traumatic memories of another 7.7-magnitude quake that hit the island in 1992, triggering a tsunami and killing about 2,500 people. “We’re on our own here,” said Junaidin, who, like many Indonesians, has one name.

He expressed frustration with a perceived lag in the arrival of aid while the nation celebrated Independence Day with pomp and ceremony.