Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia and tsunami warning issued

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, prompting a tsunami warning and causing damage to buildings and facilities. The U.S Geological Survey reported the quake's epicenter was located 68 km north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, with a depth of 10 kilometers. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, urging residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks.

Several aftershocks followed the initial quake, and no immediate casualties were reported. Residents on the coast were advised to move to higher ground, as officials were monitoring coastal tide gauges for any changes. Buildings and public facilities sustained damage, with some structures collapsing. In Sikka regency, the port terminal's waiting room collapsed, and at St. Peter Major Seminary, a collapsing roof led students to flee in panic.

One priest suffered a broken leg after jumping from a second-floor building during the quake. Indonesia, an archipelago prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Ring of Fire, experienced this quake on the predominantly Catholic island of Flores.