At least 38 people have died after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island early Saturday, triggering destructive shaking, building collapses and a tsunami warning as emergency teams began searching affected communities.
Highlights
- At least 38 people have been confirmed dead.
- The earthquake struck Flores at a depth of about 15km.
- Strong aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.1 tremor, followed.
- Around 2,000 residents evacuated or moved to safer areas.
- Homes and public facilities were severely damaged in several provinces.
Main Story
Deadly Earthquake Hits Flores
The earthquake struck shortly before 5:00am local time on Saturday, when many residents were still asleep.
Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, said the death toll had reached at least 38, with several other people suffering injuries of varying severity.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said some victims were killed when buildings and other structures collapsed while they were sleeping.
The number of casualties could rise as rescue teams reach more affected locations and assess the damage.
Buildings Collapse as Aftershocks Follow
The initial earthquake was relatively shallow, with authorities recording its depth at approximately 15 kilometres. Shallow earthquakes can cause significant damage because the seismic energy reaches the surface with less distance to travel.
Several strong aftershocks were reported in the same region, including one measuring 6.1 in magnitude.
Footage from the port in Maumere captured the extent of the destruction. Large sections of concrete reportedly fell from a terminal building onto people waiting to board an inter-island ferry.
The collapse of a gangway also sent some people into the sea as passengers attempted to escape the danger.
Tsunami Warning Triggers Evacuations
Authorities issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake, prompting residents in coastal areas to move inland.
Images and videos showed people leaving on motorcycles as they sought safer ground.
BNPB said approximately 2,000 people had evacuated or relocated without waiting for organised evacuation operations.
The tsunami warning was later cancelled after authorities found no significant rise in sea levels roughly three hours after the earthquake.
Several Provinces Report Deaths
The disaster agency reported fatalities across several parts of East Nusa Tenggara.
Three deaths were recorded in Sikka, while six were reported in Manggarai and five in East Manggarai. Manggarai was identified as one of the areas hardest hit.
Authorities also reported at least two people with serious injuries and 11 others with minor injuries.
Damage Assessment Underway
The full scale of the destruction remains unclear because some affected communities are located in remote and mountainous areas.
Initial assessments indicated that at least 54 homes had suffered severe damage.
Five healthcare facilities, three places of worship, six government buildings, a school-related facility and a warehouse were also reportedly affected.
Emergency officials have urged residents to remain calm while warning people to avoid coastlines and buildings that have been weakened by the earthquake.
Indonesia’s Exposure to Earthquakes
Indonesia regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity because it sits in a highly active tectonic region where three major plates meet.
Later on Saturday, another strong earthquake measuring 6.9 struck North Sumatra at a much greater depth of about 183 kilometres.
Authorities are expected to continue search, rescue and damage-assessment operations as more information emerges from the affected areas.
As rescue teams continue their work, the focus remains on finding survivors and reaching communities that may still be cut off by the destruction.
