Five dead after 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia early Saturday, claiming at least 47 lives and causing widespread damage. The nation's disaster management agency reported that buildings were destroyed and numerous aftershocks followed. The quake hit the island of Flores just before 5 a.m. local time, with a depth of 15km, leading to its potentially destructive effects.

A magnitude 6.4 aftershock occurred in North Sumatra, while the US Geological Survey measured the initial quake at magnitude 6.9. In Maumere port, large concrete pieces fell onto passengers as the gangway collapsed. The governor of East Nusa Tenggara province reported that many victims died in their sleep due to collapsing rubble.

A tsunami warning was issued but later lifted when no significant sea level rise was detected. Over 2,000 people evacuated or relocated on their own, while at least 24 fatalities were recorded in Manggarai province and 11 others sustained injuries. The region's remoteness and mountainous terrain pose challenges to assessing the full extent of the destruction.