At least 38 people have died after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, collapsing buildings, triggering landslides and forcing about 2,000 residents to evacuate to safer areas.
The shallow earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara early Saturday, with the United States Geological Survey recording the tremor at a depth of about 10 kilometres.
The earthquake caused widespread damage across parts of Flores, with homes and other buildings collapsing, roads blocked by landslides and power and communication networks disrupted.
Authorities issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake and urged residents in coastal areas to move to higher ground.
The warning was later lifted after Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes posing a threat to coastal communities.
Rescue operations have been complicated by landslides and damaged roads, particularly around Nagekeo Regency, close to the earthquake’s epicentre.
Emergency teams have been working to reach affected communities as authorities assess the scale of the destruction and search for people who may still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
In Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, 20 deaths were reported, while other parts of the region also recorded casualties and injuries.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said 38 people had been confirmed dead, while 13 others were injured. About 2,000 residents have been evacuated from affected areas.
The earthquake was followed by several strong aftershocks, adding to concerns among residents and emergency workers as rescue operations continued.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a seismically active zone where several tectonic plates meet and generate frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The Flores region has experienced devastating earthquakes before. In 1992, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck the island and generated a powerful tsunami, killing more than 2,000 people.
Rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue to assess the damage, restore access to isolated communities and search for survivors.
Officials have warned that the death toll could rise as emergency teams reach areas that remain difficult to access.
Goodness Anunobi
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