At least 47 dead in eastern Indonesia after magnitude 7.7 quake

A powerful quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Saturday, resulting in at least 47 fatalities, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Rescue efforts were hindered by landslides that obstructed roads and interfered with communication, preventing teams from reaching the hardest-hit region of Nagekeo.

Residents in the affected area described the earthquake as exceptionally strong, with Nona, a 51-year-old villager in Talibura, recounting how her household of 13 managed to escape the debris. The tremor triggered tsunami waves less than a meter high in several areas of the Southeast Asian nation, although authorities lifted the tsunami warning after three hours.

In Maumere, the port town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, 20 people were confirmed dead, six injured, and two trapped under rubble, according to Fathur Rahman, head of the city's rescue agency. Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara reported that buildings collapsed while inhabitants were sleeping, claiming the lives of at least five individuals.

Rescue teams encountered difficulty reaching Nagekeo, as landslides blocked roads and disrupted mobile communications. Some residents had already evacuated the region, leading to damage in homes, warehouses, and government buildings. Power outages and traffic congestion were also reported in parts of the regency.