Mass evacuations as 7.7 quake triggers tsunami warning in Indonesia

At least 38 people lost their lives following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday. The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.1. Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto confirmed 38 fatalities, with 2 individuals suffering serious injuries and another 11 sustaining minor injuries.

Approximately 2,000 people evacuated on their own after authorities issued a tsunami warning. Tsunami waves less than one meter high were recorded in several regions of Indonesia. In Nagekeo regency, the area closest to the epicenter, residents rushed to higher ground as the sea receded. Communication signals were affected, making rescue efforts challenging.

About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and damage was reported to houses, warehouses, and government facilities. The governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province stated that at least five people died due to collapsing rubble as they slept. The epicenter was located off the north coast of the island, about 68 kilometers northwest of the coastal town of Ende.

Residents in Maumere, the main town in Sikka regency, also reported strong shaking and evacuation. Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location in the Pacific "Ring of Fire." In 2004, a magnitude-9.1 quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000, including about 170,000 in Indonesia. In 2018, a powerful quake in Lombok and subsequent tremors killed over 550 people.

The Australian tsunami warning center stated that the undersea earthquake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands, or territories.