Powerful quake off Indonesia kills 20, sparks mass evacuations

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, resulting in at least 20 deaths and prompting mass evacuations. The quake's epicenter was located approximately 68 kilometers northwest of the coastal town of Ende, according to US and Indonesian authorities. Rescue efforts were underway, with at least 20 people confirmed dead and six injured, as well as two individuals still trapped under rubble in the neighboring Manggarai regency.

The rescue operation faced challenges due to landslides obstructing several roads. Residents in the hardest-hit area of Nagekeo started fleeing to higher ground as the sea receded, possibly indicating an impending tsunami. A tsunami warning was subsequently lifted, but people were cautioned against returning to damaged buildings due to potential aftershocks.

Among those affected was Yohanes Babo, a 56-year-old resident of Nagekeo who was at a market when the earthquake struck. He recounted feeling the strong tremors and the panic that ensued, ultimately evacuating for safety. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, as the stricken region consists predominantly of towns and villages with limited high-rise structures.

Indonesia is located within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent seismic activity due to its location along tectonic plate boundaries. This is not the first time Flores has experienced a devastating earthquake; in 1992, a 7.7-magnitude quake triggered a tsunami that claimed around 2,500 lives. Additionally, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake in 2004 off Sumatra's coast triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 people across the region, with about 170,000 fatalities in Indonesia.

Another significant quake occurred on Lombok in 2018, followed by further tremors, resulting in over 550 deaths on the island and its neighbor Sumbawa.