Devastating 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's Flores Island
Severe Earthquake Hits Flores Island
The earthquake hit the ocean near Indonesia, damaging homes and public buildings and triggering a tsunami warning (Photo: @airnewsalerts/X)
Maumere (Indonesia), Aug 16: A strong earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Flores Island in Indonesia early Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, with six others injured and two still unaccounted for.
As reported by local authorities, the earthquake occurred at 5:58 AM local time, originating from a depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located approximately 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende in the East Nusa Tenggara province.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the initial quake was followed by multiple aftershocks.
This seismic event caused significant destruction across Flores Island, with numerous reports of collapsed structures, damaged public facilities, and landslides.
Authorities indicated that at least two fatalities were due to building collapses, while rescue teams are actively evaluating the full scale of the devastation.
According to Indonesia's disaster management agency, six individuals sustained injuries, and two people remain missing following a landslide triggered by the quake. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in the most affected regions.
The earthquake also led to a tsunami warning being issued for several areas, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces.
Coastal residents were urged to seek higher ground and avoid beaches and riverbanks. However, the tsunami warning was later rescinded after monitoring indicated no significant changes in sea levels.
Footage from local television showed patients being evacuated from hospitals as a precautionary measure. Medical personnel moved beds, oxygen tanks, and other essential equipment outdoors while temporary treatment facilities were set up to manage emergency situations.
Witnesses recounted scenes of chaos as the tremors affected large areas of Flores Island.
Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka regency, stated, "Many buildings here were damaged. I saw the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed."
At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students attending morning Mass fled when part of the assembly hall's roof fell in. Rev. Guidelbertus Tanga, the seminary's rector, noted, "Our students and nuns ran out in panic beneath a collapsing roof. At least one priest suffered a broken leg after jumping from the second floor during the quake."
Indonesia, home to over 270 million people, is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the most seismically active regions globally.
The nation frequently experiences earthquakes due to its position along a series of active tectonic fault lines.