A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores, Indonesia, on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 individuals. The tremor, which occurred at 5.58 am local time, was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres and had its epicentre located 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province.

The seismic activity led to extensive damage in various regions across East Nusa Tenggara and its surroundings, including public infrastructure and residential buildings. Besides fatalities, numerous injuries were reported, with many individuals requiring hospitalisation.

Tsunami Warning Issued and Lifted

In response to the earthquake, authorities issued a tsunami warning for regions including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. Residents were advised to evacuate low-lying areas and avoid beaches and riverbanks. However, the warning was lifted later in the day after monitoring indicated no significant sea-level changes that posed a threat to coastal areas.

Monitoring stations did, however, register small tsunami waves, with measurements reaching up to 1.61 metres in coastal villages of Manggarai and East Manggarai. Similar waves of 0.94 metres were recorded in Maurole, Ende Regency, along with less significant waves detected in Bulukumba and Sape.

Following the initial quake, Indonesia’s meteorological agency tracked 235 aftershocks, the most intense of which measured up to 6.2 in magnitude. The continued tremors raised concerns about further damage and casualties in affected areas.

Impact and Ongoing Rescue Operations

Significant destruction was reported across Flores Island, with East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko confirming that buildings had collapsed and power outages impeded communication efforts. Rescue operations faced difficulties due to blocked roads and landslides caused by the earthquake.

Fathur Rahman, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, stated that rescuers had retrieved 40 bodies, primarily from the severely affected areas of Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai. Approximately 50 individuals were transported to hospitals for medical assistance, while over 2,000 residents in Nagekeo Regency sought refuge in temporary shelters.

The toll may potentially rise as it was reported that some remote villages were buried or isolated due to landslides. Limited access to heavy machinery has hindered the rescue efforts, prompting authorities to deploy helicopters and a rescue vessel to assist in emergency operations.

Witness accounts detailed the extent of damage, with one resident, Yohanna Embu, mentioning that multiple buildings had sustained damage, prompting frightened citizens to seek higher ground. Further reports from St Peter Major Seminary indicated that a roof collapse resulted in injuries among students and staff during morning Mass.

As of late Saturday, while the tsunami warning was rescinded, relief efforts continued to face challenges from ongoing aftershocks and disrupted communication lines. Emergency services remained active amid adverse conditions to assess the full impact of the earthquake across Flores and its neighbouring regions.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share