Five dead after magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and numerous aftershocks struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday, resulting in at least five fatalities, according to a provincial governor. Tsunami waves of less than one meter were recorded in several locations within the country. The tsunami warning was lifted approximately three hours following the earthquake.

Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, informed a press conference that the victims perished due to collapsing rubble while sleeping. The national disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, initially reported one death and four injuries. A video on Facebook, confirmed by Reuters to be filmed in Maumere, a port town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, depicted a building collapsing into dust and rubble as people fled in terror.

East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and portions of South Sulawesi experienced the earthquake's significant impact, with residents in multiple areas reporting shaking lasting around one minute. BNPB stated that most individuals felt the shock and hastily evacuated their homes. A hospital in the Ende district of East Nusa Tenggara Province began evacuating patients via ground transport, while Kompas TV footage showed at least one landslide.

The Indonesian geophysics agency, BMKG, recorded the initial quake at 4:58 a.m. (2158 GMT) at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), followed by several aftershocks. Approximately 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and damage was inflicted on numerous houses, warehouses, and government facilities. Authorities also reported traffic congestion and power outages in some areas of the regency.

The Australian tsunami warning center affirmed that the underwater earthquake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands, or territories. Indonesia lies within the "Pacific Ring of Fire," a highly seismically active region where tectonic plates converge, contributing to a high frequency of earthquakes and volcanic activity.