A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 20 people, collapsing buildings and triggering widespread panic across the Flores region and surrounding areas.
The quake, recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey at a depth of 10 kilometres, had its epicentre about 68 kilometres north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks followed the initial tremor.
Authorities initially issued tsunami warnings for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and areas of Sulawesi and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but the warning was later lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes.
Local search and rescue teams recovered at least 20 bodies across three regencies — Sikka, West Manggarai and East Manggarai. Eight of the dead were pulled from a landslide in the village of Reok in Manggarai. Six people were reported injured and rushed to nearby hospitals, and rescue crews continued searching for two villagers believed to be buried under mud from a quake-triggered landslide.
East Nusa Tenggara officials described widespread destruction, with reports of collapsed homes, damaged public buildings and disruptions to power that hampered communications and rescue operations. Landslides in Ende regency also cut the Trans-Flores highway, the main paved route linking Labuan Bajo and Larantuka, complicating overland access across the island.
Footage from local television showed hospital staff evacuating patients and moving critical equipment outdoors as a precaution. Temporary treatment areas were set up to cope with emergency conditions.
The National Disaster Management Agency dispatched a helicopter to support logistics, assessments and possible evacuations. Authorities said air support is essential in East Nusa Tenggara because the province is made up of many islands and mountainous terrain that limit ground access.
About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo regency were reported to have fled to temporary shelters after the quake.
The shaking was felt across much of Flores island and was reported in tourist and port towns including Labuan Bajo. Damage was also reported in parts of neighboring West Nusa Tenggara province and southern Sulawesi.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is highly prone to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The country has suffered several devastating seismic disasters in recent decades: a 1992 quake and tsunami on Flores killed roughly 2,500 people; a 2018 magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi killed more than 4,400 people and caused widespread liquefaction in Palu; a 2010 tsunami struck the Mentawai Islands and killed hundreds; and the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and ensuing tsunami claimed about 230,000 lives across multiple countries.
Authorities continue search and rescue operations and damage assessments, and have urged residents to stay alert for aftershocks and follow official guidance on evacuations and safety measures.
