A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake has killed at least 38 people after it struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores Island, causing widespread damage. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake struck early on Saturday at 5:58am local time (21:58 GMT Friday), with an epicentre about 68 kilometres (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende, in East Nusa Tenggara province. The USGS placed the depth of the tremor at 10km (6.2 miles).
Dozens of aftershocks shook the island throughout the day, the strongest measuring a magnitude of 6.1. Later on Saturday, a separate 6.9-magnitude earthquake also struck Indonesia’s western Sumatra island, thousands of kilometres away in the vast country, according to USGS data. There were no initial reports of damage or casualties from that secondary event.
Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, confirmed that 38 people had been killed in the initial Flores quake, with casualties concentrated in the regencies of Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai. Rescue official Fathur Rahman provided a higher estimate, putting the death toll at 40 with 50 people injured. Suharyanto noted that approximately 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency, which lies closest to the epicentre, have fled their homes for temporary shelters.
East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko reported that the disaster caused severe structural damage and collapsed numerous buildings. Recounting the terror of the event, 51-year-old Talibura resident Nona told Reuters, “The quake was massive, the shock was so strong, we were resting at home with family. There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.”
To facilitate the emergency response, Suharyanto confirmed that three helicopters and a rescue vessel have been deployed to assist with logistics. These assets are critical given the geography of East Nusa Tenggara, which consists of numerous islands that present significant transportation and access challenges. However, teams are struggling to reach Nagekeo regency, where landslides have blocked roads and disrupted communications, according to Rahman. A rescue team is currently attempting to reach the area by ferry.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) initially issued a tsunami warning for affected coastlines, urging residents to move to higher ground and stay away from beaches and riverbanks. While the warning has since been lifted, authorities have advised locals to continue staying away from the shores and damaged buildings. USGS estimates suggest more than half a million people on Flores Island experienced very strong shaking, with moderate to strong shaking felt by several million more across the wider region.
Reporting from Jakarta, Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington stated that aftershocks could persist for several days. In northern parts of the island, residents have been ordered to evacuate as the extent of the damage remains emerging. “Many houses have been damaged,” Washington reported, adding that local authorities are currently unable to reach several affected areas that remain locked off to first responders.
Officials fear the death toll will climb further as emergency teams continue their search and rescue efforts. Local authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and assess the risk of further seismic activity in the hours ahead.
Indonesia, a nation of more than 270 million people spread across roughly 17,000 islands, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is one of the world’s most seismically active countries. The same stretch of coastline was struck by a similarly powerful earthquake in December 1992, when the quake and the subsequent tsunami killed more than 2,500 people on Flores.
