A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday, resulting in at least 38 fatalities as emergency responders worked to reach communities near the epicenter. The tremor was followed by numerous aftershocks, complicating rescue operations.
Authorities recorded tsunami waves under one meter in height at several locations after the early morning quake. A tsunami warning issued shortly after the earthquake was lifted approximately three hours later.
Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), confirmed the death toll had reached 38 by 3 p.m. local time. Additionally, two individuals were critically injured, and 11 others sustained minor injuries. Approximately 2,000 residents evacuated to safer areas in response to the disaster.
Rescue teams have encountered significant challenges reaching the hardest-hit zones. In Maumere, the principal town of Sikka Regency on Flores Island, officials reported recovering 20 bodies. Six people were injured, and two remained trapped under debris. Authorities also suspect that others are trapped inside damaged structures in various affected locations.
Landslides triggered by the earthquake have obstructed multiple roads, further hindering rescue and relief efforts. Strong shaking was felt across several provinces as officials continued damage assessments and search operations.
Teams have yet to access Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicenter, where communication signals have been disrupted. Attempts to reach Nagekeo by road were blocked by landslides, while another team was attempting to approach by ferry. Around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, with reports of damage to houses, warehouses, and government buildings. Traffic congestion and power outages have also affected parts of the regency.
East Nusa Tenggara Province Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena stated in a press briefing that at least five people died from collapsing rubble while they were asleep. A video verified as being from a port in Maumere showed parts of a building crumbling into dust and debris as people screamed and fled into the streets.
One resident, Nona, 51, from Talibura village in East Nusa Tenggara, described the quake as massive. She recalled that 13 family members inside her home ran outside to escape the shaking.
The earthquake’s impact was felt across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, with shaking reported to last about one minute in several areas. The BNPB noted that most people evacuated their homes during the tremor.
In the district of Ende, East Nusa Tenggara, a hospital was seen moving patients outdoors, and at least one landslide was reported. The Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG recorded the initial quake at 4:58 a.m. local time (2158 GMT) at a depth of 15 kilometers, followed by multiple aftershocks.
BMKG recalled that the same region experienced a magnitude-7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused widespread destruction. Meanwhile, Australia’s tsunami warning center confirmed that the undersea quake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland or its territories.
Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where tectonic plates converge, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
