MAUMERE, Indonesia (AP) – A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, causing the collapse of buildings and homes, resulting in at least five fatalities, and generating panic in a region famous for its seismic activity. The earthquake hit Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometers, with the epicenter located 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province at 5:58 a.m. local time. The initial quake was followed by multiple aftershocks.
Following the earthquake, authorities promptly issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground. However, the warning was later lifted when Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency reported that monitoring indicated no significant sea-level changes that would threaten coastal communities.
Preliminary reports from East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko indicated that two fatalities occurred in Sikka Regency and three in Manggarai Regency due to severe damage and collapsed buildings from the quake. Power outages across cities and villages have hindered communication and complicated search and rescue efforts. Darmoko stated, "We are continuing to collect reports of damages and casualties, but there are communication disruptions."
Images broadcasted on local television depicted patients being evacuated from multiple hospitals as a safety precaution after the ordeal. Hospital staff were observed moving essential equipment, including beds, IV stands, and oxygen tanks outdoors, setting up temporary treatment areas to accommodate the emergency conditions.
The earthquake caused significant tremors across Flores island, leading to widespread reports of extensive damage. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka Regency, expressed that many buildings had been compromised, and there was a rush amongst people to flee to higher ground. She noted, "Many buildings here were damaged … I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed."
Students attending morning Mass at St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka experienced panic as the roof of an assembly hall caved in. Rev. Guidelbertus Tanga, the rector of the seminary, commonly known as Ritapiret Seminary, reported that "Our students and nuns ran out in panic beneath a collapsing roof." He added that at least one priest suffered a broken leg after jumping from the second floor during the quake.
In Bima, a city in neighboring West Nusa Tenggara province, panic ensued as well, with additional damages reported in some areas of southern Sulawesi island. Indonesian authorities initially warned several provinces, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi, urging residents to steer clear of beaches and riverbanks as a safety measure.
Indonesia is notoriously susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its geographical location on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. This region has a history of devastating seismic events; a significant earthquake triggered a tsunami in 1992 that killed approximately 2,500 people on Flores. Other catastrophic occurrences include the 2018 magnitude 7.5 quake that led to a localized tsunami, decimating coastal regions and resulting in over 4,400 fatalities due to liquefaction in the eastern city of Palu.
In 2010, a large offshore earthquake produced a 10-foot (three-meter) wave striking the Mentawai Islands off Sumatra's western coast, leading to more than 400 deaths and extensive property damage. Moreover, the tragic magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra in December 2004 triggered a tsunami, claiming about 230,000 lives across a dozen countries.
