Indonesian rescuers search for survivors as quake death toll rises to 38
Dozens of houses and other buildings were damaged when the 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Flores Island in Indonesia’s east, leaving people trapped.
The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off Indonesia's Flores Island on Saturday has left at least 38 people dead and 13 injured, according to the national disaster mitigation agency. The disaster prompted rescuers to comb through debris for survivors, with two helicopters and a plane being prepared to aid rescue operations.
About 2,000 people have evacuated the region. The quake's epicenter was located just off the north coast of the popular tourist island. The area, largely rural with few high-rise buildings, has seen long queues of people evacuating on foot, by motorbike, and car, with some piling into the back of pickup trucks. Indonesia, situated in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location in the intense seismic activity zone.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
