20 dead, thousands flee after powerful 7.7-magnitude Indonesia quake

Rescuers searched for survivors on Saturday after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia, killing at least 20 people and causing thousands to flee. The quake, centered just off the north coast of the island, about 68km northwest of the coastal town of Ende, also resulted in six injuries and two people still trapped under rubble.

Fathur Rahman, a rescue official, confirmed the death toll, stating that victims were found in four different towns on the tourist-friendly island. Two individuals were reported to be trapped alive in Manggarai regency following the 7.7-magnitude quake. The rescue effort was hampered by landslides that blocked several roads.

Residents in Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicenter, fled to higher ground as the sea receded, indicating a possible tsunami. A tsunami warning was later lifted, but people were advised not to return to damaged buildings due to potential aftershocks.

Over two dozen aftershocks, with the strongest measuring 6.1, have been felt since the initial quake. Many residents, like Yohanes Babo, reported feeling the earth shake strongly while others, such as hospital customer service official Lukas Lotar, described the panic that ensued.

Indonesia, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent earthquakes. In 1992, a 7.7-magnitude quake caused a tsunami that killed around 2,500 people on Flores. The island also suffered a devastating 9.1-magnitude tremor in 2004 that triggered a tsunami, resulting in approximately 220,000 deaths throughout the region, with 170,000 in Indonesia. More recently, a powerful quake hit Lombok in 2018, followed by several aftershocks, claiming over 550 lives.