Indonesia earthquake, 38 dead as rescue teams race…
JAKARTA: At least 38 people have died after a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, sending residents fleeing from homes, damaging buildings and triggering a brief tsunami warning, officials said.
The shallow offshore earthquake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, complicating rescue efforts across East Nusa Tenggara province. Authorities said tsunami waves measuring less than one metre were recorded in several areas before the warning was lifted about three hours after the main tremor.
Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), said 38 people had died, while two were seriously injured and 11 suffered minor injuries. About 2,000 residents were evacuated to safer areas as authorities assessed the damage.
Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, was among the worst-hit locations. Rescue officials reported finding 20 bodies there, while several people were injured and others remained trapped beneath collapsed structures.
The disaster also struck Nagekeo, the area closest to the earthquake’s epicentre. Rescue teams faced major difficulties reaching the region because landslides blocked roads and communication signals were disrupted. Authorities said around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo had moved to safer locations, while houses, warehouses and government facilities were damaged.
Officials said power outages and traffic congestion were reported in parts of the affected region. In some locations, residents rushed outdoors as buildings shook violently. Hospitals also moved patients outside as a precaution against further tremors.
A resident of Talibura described the shaking as extremely powerful, saying her family ran from their home after the earthquake struck. Her account reflected the panic felt across communities as the ground continued to shake.
The Indonesian geophysics agency said the initial earthquake occurred at a depth of about 15 kilometres and was followed by multiple aftershocks. Rescue workers are continuing to search damaged buildings and isolated communities for survivors. Officials said emergency crews were using boats and other routes where roads remained blocked by landslides and debris.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where tectonic plates meet. The region has suffered devastating earthquakes before, including a magnitude-7.5 quake in 1992 that caused extensive destruction.
Authorities warned that the situation remains fluid as rescue teams work to reach isolated areas, determine the full scale of damage and provide assistance to displaced residents. The death toll could rise as search operations continue.
