At least 20 dead after powerful 7.7 earthquake hits Indonesia's Flores island

At least 20 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores island early Saturday, triggering a tsunami warning, damaging buildings and forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground. The toll rose sharply as authorities received information from areas where communications and road access had been disrupted. Rescue official Fathur Rahman said 20 deaths had been confirmed across four towns, while six people were injured and two remained buried under debris.

Search and rescue operations were continuing across the affected parts of East Nusa Tenggara, with officials warning that casualty figures could change as teams reached remote communities. The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.7, with its epicentre around 68 km north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The US agency placed the quake at a depth of about 10 km. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded a depth of around 15 km. The shallow earthquake caused intense shaking across Flores and neighbouring areas, sending residents rushing from their homes before dawn.

Buildings damaged, residents flee

Officials said strong tremors were experienced across East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara as well as parts of South Sulawesi. In some areas, residents reported that the shaking continued for about a minute. Homes, warehouses and government facilities were among the structures damaged. Videos and photographs from the affected areas showed collapsed walls, badly damaged houses and residents gathering outdoors following the earthquake.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said some of the victims were killed when debris fell on them while they were sleeping. The earthquake also caused power outages and communication disruptions, complicating efforts to establish the extent of the damage and reach some of the worst-hit communities.

Nagekeo was among the severely affected areas, with about 2,000 residents evacuated. Rescue teams faced difficulties reaching parts of the region because of landslides and damaged infrastructure. In neighbouring Manggarai, rescuers were attempting to reach people trapped under collapsed structures. Footage from Ende showed patients being moved outside a hospital following the powerful tremors as authorities assessed whether buildings remained safe.

Tsunami warning lifted

Indonesia issued a tsunami warning soon after the earthquake, prompting residents of coastal communities to move to higher ground.

Minor tsunami waves measuring less than one metre were subsequently recorded in several locations. The warning was lifted around three hours after the earthquake as authorities determined that the immediate tsunami threat had passed.

Thousands of residents had already evacuated from vulnerable coastal areas by then, fearing a larger tsunami.

The warning carried particular significance in Flores, which has previously experienced devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.

Powerful aftershocks follow

Several strong aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, adding to fears among residents and complicating rescue operations.

Three significant aftershocks were recorded within about half an hour of the main earthquake, with magnitudes of 5.9, 5.6 and 6.1. Authorities urged people to remain alert and avoid entering structures that may have been weakened by the initial tremor.

Emergency teams continued to assess damage across Flores as information arrived from isolated communities.

The scale of destruction was not immediately clear, with disrupted communications making it difficult for officials to obtain a comprehensive assessment from some areas.

Region vulnerable to major quakes

Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes because of its position along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a vast zone of tectonic activity where several major plates meet.

Flores itself lies in a particularly active seismic region and has a history of destructive earthquakes.

In December 1992, a major earthquake struck Flores and generated a devastating tsunami, killing more than 2,000 people. The disaster caused extensive destruction around Maumere and other coastal communities.

Saturday's earthquake again highlighted the vulnerability of communities scattered across Indonesia's vast archipelago, where mountainous terrain, isolated islands and limited transport links can complicate emergency operations following major disasters.

Authorities were continuing search and rescue operations on Saturday, with teams working through damaged buildings and debris while officials gathered casualty and damage reports from across the affected region.