Strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, causing widespread panic among residents. Authorities issued a tsunami warning following the initial jolt, as the quake's epicenter was located off the north coast, approximately 68 kilometers northwest of the town of Ende. The tremor was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.1.

Residents in Nagekeo regency, the area closest to the epicenter, rushed to higher ground as they observed the sea receding, a possible indication of an approaching tsunami. Lukas Lotar, a 31-year-old hospital customer service official and Maumere resident, recounted his experience: "Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked. Patients also fled the hospital, the jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked."

Yohanes Babo, a 56-year-old resident in Nagekeo, was at a market when the earth began shaking. "The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house," he told AFP. People were seen panicking and running in various directions, with many evacuating towards the hills. The meteorological agency in Indonesia issued a strong plea for people on the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts to evacuate immediately, urging them to move more than two kilometers inland or to higher areas over 10 meters in elevation. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.