Agadir – At least 38 people died after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings, and prompting coastal evacuations.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The quake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Three significant aftershocks followed within about half an hour, measuring magnitudes 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1. Authorities warned that further aftershocks could continue as rescue teams searched affected areas.
Rescue teams in and around the port town of Maumere initially found 38 people dead and six injured, while two people remained trapped beneath rubble, according to local rescue officials.
Emergency teams had yet to reach parts of Nagekeo regency, which lies closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, as damaged infrastructure and disrupted communications slowed rescue operations.
Local authorities reported severe damage and collapsed buildings across affected areas. Power outages in cities and villages also disrupted communications and complicated search and rescue efforts.
Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, said around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated after the earthquake. The agency reported damage to houses, warehouses, and government facilities.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning after the earthquake and urged residents in affected coastal areas to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and move to higher ground.
Authorities later lifted the warning but continued to urge residents to exercise caution as aftershocks persisted and emergency teams assessed damaged buildings and infrastructure.
USGS estimates indicate that more than half a million people on Flores Island experienced very strong shaking, while several million others across the wider region felt moderate to strong shaking.
Authorities continued to monitor the situation and assess the risk of further aftershocks as rescue teams expanded their operations.
