At least two dead in magnitude 7.7 quake in NTT
The first tremor was recorded at 4:58 a.m. local time, with an epicenter located off the northern coast of Flores Island, about 68 kilometers northwest of the coastal town of Ende.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, early Saturday morning. The epicenter was located about 68 kilometers northwest of Ende, a coastal town. At least two people were killed and another injured in El Say port in Sikka regency, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The tremor triggered several strong aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.1.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a warning of possible tsunami waves, urging people to seek higher ground. The possibility of a tsunami was later lifted after the alert was issued for waves ranging from 0.5 to 3 meters. Videos on social media showed buildings collapsing and people running in panic in Maumere, the main town in Sikka regency.
The head of BMKG's earthquake and tsunami department, Wijayanto, stated that tsunami modeling suggested the potential for a tsunami in NTT, NTB, and South Sulawesi, but the alert was later lifted. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
