A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 20 people, collapsing buildings and homes, and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes. Authorities reported six people injured and two missing after a landslide triggered by the tremor.
The quake hit Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was located north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks.
Rescuers recovered at least 20 bodies in the devastated regencies of Sikka, West Manggarai, and East Manggarai. Eight bodies were pulled from a landslide in the village of Reok in Manggarai, and six people were taken to nearby hospitals with severe injuries. Search efforts continued for two villagers believed to be buried under mud from a landslide.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko stated that the earthquake caused severe damage and collapsed structures. Power outages in cities and villages hampered communication and complicated search and rescue operations. Landslides in Ende regency also cut off the Trans-Flores highway, a major route spanning Flores Island.
Footage from local television showed patients being evacuated from hospitals as a precaution. Hospital staff moved equipment outdoors and set up temporary treatment areas. The National Disaster Management Agency deployed a helicopter to support emergency response operations and potential evacuations, a crucial measure given the challenging island geography of East Nusa Tenggara.
Approximately 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency sought refuge in temporary shelters. The quake was felt across much of Flores island, with initial reports indicating heavy damage. One resident of Sikka regency described damaged buildings, including a collapsed waiting room at the Maumere port terminal.
At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students fled during morning Mass when the roof of an assembly hall collapsed. The rector reported that at least one priest sustained a broken leg after jumping from a second-floor building.
Panic also occurred in Labuan Bajo, a gateway to Komodo National Park. Damage was also reported in Bima, in neighboring West Nusa Tenggara province, and parts of southern Sulawesi island.
Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, urging residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. The warning was later lifted when monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes.
Indonesia, an archipelago situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The region has a history of devastating seismic events, including a 1992 earthquake and tsunami that killed approximately 2,500 people on Flores. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami and liquefaction in Palu killed over 4,400 people. A 2010 earthquake and tsunami in the Mentawai Islands resulted in more than 400 deaths, and the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami claimed over 230,000 lives across a dozen countries.