‘People were panicking, running’: Videos show destruction after Indonesia’s 7.7 earthquake; 20 killed

At least 20 people perished on Saturday following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's Flores Island, officials reported. Videos now emerging on social media capture the devastating aftermath, showing buildings collapsing and panicked residents fleeing the streets. The quake hit with a depth of 10 kilometers, centered north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the US Geological Survey.

A brief tsunami warning ensued but was later lifted. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned of potential tsunami waves and urged coastal residents to seek higher ground, though the alert was withdrawn after a few hours. In 1992, a similar quake caused a tsunami that claimed around 2,500 lives on Flores Island.

Indonesia's frequent seismic activity is due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific, making the nation prone to powerful earthquakes.