A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores Island early on Monday, triggering widespread damage and leaving at least 38 people dead, according to local authorities. The tremor occurred around midday local time at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located about 70 kilometers northwest of the town of Ende, which lies in the central part of the island. The quake was followed by several aftershocks, including one registering 6.1 and another 5.9 in magnitude. Indonesian officials initially issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted after three hours. The earthquake was felt strongly in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, as well as parts of South Sulawesi. According to official reports, the shaking lasted roughly a minute in multiple areas. Many residents fled their homes out of fear, while emergency services worked to assess the extent of the damage and locate survivors. At least two people were still trapped under rubble, and six others sustained injuries, some of them severe, according to the head of the rescue service in Maumere, a city on Flores Island, who spoke to the television station TvOne. Flores is one of more than 17,000 islands in Indonesia, situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions. The western part of the island, particularly the city of Labuan Bajo, is a popular tourist destination, serving as a base for diving, snorkeling, and visits to the nearby Komodo National Park, home to the large Komodo dragons. However, the central area around Ende, approximately 300 kilometers east of Labuan Bajo, is considered remote and has limited tourism infrastructure. Local police chief Rudi Darmoko of East Nusa Tenggara stated that power outages in cities and villages had hindered communication and complicated search-and-rescue efforts. “We continue to gather reports on damages and casualties, but there are communication disruptions,” he said. Reports indicated that parts of a building collapsed in Maumere, and patients at a hospital in one district of East Nusa Tenggara were evacuated outdoors as a precaution. Media also reported at least one landslide triggered by the earthquake. Earlier reports suggested a lower death toll, with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stating that at least five people had died and one person was injured. These figures were later revised upward as more information emerged. According to preliminary reports, two fatalities were recorded in the regency of Sikka and three in Manggarai due to structural collapses caused by the earthquake. Officials emphasized that the exact number of casualties remained unclear due to ongoing assessments and communication challenges in affected regions. The main shock was registered by Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) at 4:58 AM local time at a depth of approximately 15 kilometers. This discrepancy in depth measurements highlights the complexity of assessing such events based on different monitoring systems. Following the initial quake, several aftershocks were recorded, though none reached the magnitude of the main event. The Australian Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that no threat posed a danger to Australia’s mainland, islands, or territories. Residents in the affected areas described scenes of chaos and destruction, with many families left homeless and communities struggling to cope with the aftermath. Emergency teams continued their efforts to reach isolated locations, often relying on helicopters and boats to navigate damaged roads and infrastructure. Aid organizations and government agencies have begun coordinating relief efforts, focusing on providing shelter, food, water, and medical care to those impacted by the disaster. As the situation continues to evolve, officials remain cautious about potential further hazards, including additional aftershocks and landslides. The focus now shifts toward long-term recovery and rebuilding, with international support likely to play a key role in the coming weeks. The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of regions prone to seismic activity and underscores the need for improved preparedness and response mechanisms in such high-risk zones.
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