A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck the sea off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday. The tremor caused buildings and homes to collapse, leading to panic in the region known for deadly earthquakes. At least 20 people have died, with six others injured and two missing due to a landslide triggered by the quake.
The authorities issued a tsunami warning urging coastal residents to move to higher ground. This warning was later canceled when Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported no significant sea level changes posing a threat to coastal communities.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the earthquake hit the Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.22 miles) at 5:58 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks followed the initial tremor.
“Rescuers have recovered at least 20 bodies in the three devastated regencies of Sikka, West Manggarai, and East Manggarai,” said Fathur Rahman, head of Maumere’s Search and Rescue Agency.
Six people sustained serious injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescuers continue to search for two villagers believed buried under tons of mud from the landslide.
Rudi Darmoko, police chief of East Nusa Tenggara, reported severe damage and building collapses, further complicated by power outages that hinder information flow and search and rescue efforts. Landslides in the Ende regency disrupted the Trans-Flores highway, a paved mountain road running across the island for approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles).
Local television footage showed healthcare workers evacuating patients from hospital buildings as a precaution. Medical staff relocated equipment outdoors, including beds, intravenous stands, and oxygen cylinders, setting up temporary treatment areas to adapt to emergency conditions.
The National Disaster Management Agency deployed a helicopter for logistics and emergency response support, considering possible evacuations as needed. Aerial support is crucial given East Nusa Tenggara’s geography of numerous islands, which poses significant transportation and access challenges.
Approximately 2,000 villagers in the Nagekeo regency fled to temporary shelters. The earthquake was felt across much of the island of Flores and surrounding regions. Early reports indicate significant damage in affected areas.
Resident Yohanna Embu from Sikka regency reported on the panic and damage, witnessing structures crumbling from the violent shaking, including the main waiting room at the Pelni port terminal in Maumere. Students attending morning mass at the San Pedro Seminary in Sikka fled in panic when the auditorium’s ceiling collapsed, according to Father Guidelbertus Tanga, the seminary’s rector.
The quake provoked panic in Labuan Bajo, a gateway to Komodo National Park, and the nearby Bima city in West Nusa Tenggara, as well as other areas in southern Sulawesi island. Initially, officials issued a tsunami warning for parts of East and West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. Residents were advised to avoid beaches and riverbanks, with the quake centered off Flores island.
Indonesia, comprising more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” known for its volcanoes and tectonic fault lines. In 1992, a powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed about 2,500 people in Flores. Another event in 2018 resulted in a magnitude 7.5 earthquake causing a significant tsunami and landslides in Palu city, leaving over 4,400 dead.
In 2010, a 10-foot (3-meter) wave struck the Mentawai islands following an offshore earthquake, causing over 400 deaths and destroying hundreds of homes. The catastrophic December 2004 earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggered a tsunami killing 230,000 people across several countries.
Reporters Niniek Karmini and Edna Tarigan from Jakarta contributed to this report.
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