At least 20 dead as 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent At least 20 people have been killed, six injured, and two trapped under rubble after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia’s Flores region on Friday. The United States Geological Survey reported the shallow undersea tremor had its epicenter 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest […]
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia's Flores region on Friday, resulting in at least 20 deaths, six injuries, and two individuals trapped under rubble. The tremor's epicenter was located 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Rescue agencies swiftly mobilized, but faced challenges due to disrupted communications and blocked roads by landslides.
The death toll has since risen as rescue teams reached more affected areas, with local officials confirming a higher casualty count. Tsunami warnings were initially issued for several regions, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi, but were later lifted as no significant sea-level rise was detected.
Witness accounts describe chaotic scenes and severe damage to buildings, including a collapsed waiting room at a port terminal. The earthquake's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent seismic activity, highlights the region's vulnerability to such natural disasters.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
