Indonesia Rocked by Major Earthquake, Two Dead as Tsunami Warning Issued
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit off Flores Island in Indonesia on Saturday. The quake killed two people and led to a tsunami warning for coastal areas. Authorities urged residents to move to higher ground immediately.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported details of the earthquake. It struck early Saturday at 5:58 AM local time. The quake’s center was about 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende city. This city is in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. The earthquake happened at a depth of 10 kilometers below the sea.
Three strong aftershocks followed within 30 minutes. These measured magnitudes 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1. These smaller quakes added to the region’s instability.
Indonesia’s national disaster agency, BNPB, confirmed the two deaths. A man and a woman died at the L Say Maumere port. One other person suffered injuries. Local news showed severe damage to buildings. The areas around Maumere region were hit particularly hard.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning. It advised people near the coast to leave beaches and riverbanks. Abdul Muhari, a BNPB official, spoke to residents. He strongly urged people along the northern and southern coasts of Flores to evacuate themselves.
Mr. Muhari advised people to move at least two kilometers inland. He also suggested going to hills more than 10 meters high. This was to stay safe from any potential tsunami waves. Australia’s tsunami warning center said the quake posed no threat to Australia.
The USGS estimates that over 500,000 people on Flores Island felt very strong shaking. Several million more across the wider region experienced moderate to strong shaking. Local authorities are still monitoring the situation. They are checking for any risk of more aftershocks.
Indonesia is a nation of over 270 million people. It sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” This makes it one of the world’s most active earthquake zones. A similar earthquake and tsunami struck the same coast in December 1992. That event killed more than 2,500 people on Flores Island.
