A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores region early Saturday, killing at least 20 people and leaving several others injured or missing as buildings collapsed and landslides cut off roads across parts of East Nusa Tenggara.
The earthquake struck at around 5:58 a.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey, at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometres. Its epicentre was located roughly 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.
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The strong shaking was followed by several aftershocks, sending residents into panic and prompting authorities to temporarily issue a tsunami warning.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency later withdrew the warning after monitoring showed no significant changes in sea levels that could threaten coastal communities. Residents had initially been advised to move away from beaches and riverbanks and seek higher ground.
Death Toll Rises as Rescue Operations Continue
Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency, said rescuers had recovered at least 20 bodies from the worst-hit areas of Sikka, West Manggarai and East Manggarai.
Eight of the victims were reportedly recovered from a landslide in Reok village in Manggarai. At least six people sustained serious injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.
Two other villagers remained missing and were feared trapped beneath large amounts of mud after a landslide swept down from the surrounding hills.
Authorities warned that the full scale of the damage was still being assessed, with communication problems and power outages making rescue efforts more difficult.
Landslides Cut Off Major Highway
The earthquake triggered landslides in several areas, including Ende regency, where sections of the Trans-Flores highway were reportedly blocked.
The approximately 700-kilometre mountain road stretches across Flores Island from Labuan Bajo to Larantuka and serves as a vital transportation link for communities across the region.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said the earthquake had caused severe structural damage and collapsed buildings in several locations. He added that widespread power cuts had disrupted communications and made it harder for authorities to gather information about casualties and destruction.
Hospitals Evacuate Patients
The intense shaking also prompted emergency evacuations at hospitals across the affected areas.
Local television footage showed patients being moved outside as a precaution, while medical staff shifted beds, oxygen cylinders, intravenous equipment and other supplies to temporary treatment areas.
At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students attending morning Mass reportedly fled after part of an assembly hall collapsed. Seminary rector Rev. Guidelbertus Tanga said students and nuns rushed outside amid the falling debris.
At least one priest reportedly suffered a broken leg after jumping from the second floor during the earthquake.
Residents in Sikka also reported significant structural damage. Yohanna Embu, a local resident, said several buildings were damaged and that people ran towards higher ground in fear after the tremors. She also reported that part of the waiting area at the Maumere port terminal had collapsed.
Helicopter Deployed for Emergency Response
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency deployed a helicopter to support rescue and relief operations, including the movement of emergency supplies and possible evacuations.
The air support is particularly important in East Nusa Tenggara, a region made up of numerous islands where damaged roads and difficult terrain can make ground transportation challenging.
Authorities said around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo regency had fled their homes and moved into temporary shelters.
The earthquake was felt across large parts of Flores, while damage and panic were also reported in Labuan Bajo, a major gateway to Komodo National Park. Reports also indicated damage in Bima in neighbouring West Nusa Tenggara and parts of southern Sulawesi.
Indonesia’s Long History of Deadly Earthquakes
Indonesia is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region marked by active faults and volcanoes.
Flores has experienced devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in the past. A powerful earthquake in 1992 triggered a tsunami that killed around 2,500 people on the island.
In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck near Sulawesi and generated a destructive tsunami. Severe ground liquefaction also devastated parts of Palu, with more than 4,400 people reported dead.
The Mentawai Islands were hit by another major offshore earthquake in 2010, followed by a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and destroyed hundreds of homes.
The deadliest disaster in Indonesia’s modern history came in December 2004, when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra generated a massive Indian Ocean tsunami. Around 230,000 people were killed across a dozen countries.
With rescue teams continuing to search damaged areas and assess the extent of destruction, authorities in East Nusa Tenggara are facing a challenging emergency response involving collapsed structures, landslides, damaged roads and disrupted communications.
(Inputs from The Indian Express)
Edited by: Moonmoon Borah
