Twenty killed after powerful earthquake strikes off Indonesia

At least 20 people lost their lives after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Saturday morning. The city of Maumere, located on Flores Island, was the hardest hit, with officials reporting 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two people still trapped under the debris. Rescue teams have not yet reached the region closest to the epicenter, Nagekeo, due to landslides blocking roads and communication issues.

About 2,000 residents were evacuated from Nagekeo, with damage reported to homes, warehouses, and government facilities. Authorities also noted traffic congestion and power outages in parts of the region. According to the governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, five people died when the rubble collapsed on them while they were sleeping.

Residents across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi felt the tremors, which lasted approximately one minute. Tsunami waves of less than 1 meter were recorded in several areas after the early morning quake, but the warning was lifted about three hours later. The Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG recorded the initial quake at 4:58am, at a depth of 15 kilometers, followed by several aftershocks.

In 1992, the same region was struck by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake, resulting in significant destruction. Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.