A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island in the early hours of the morning, causing at least 40 deaths and severe damage in several areas. The toll remains provisional as search-and-rescue operations continue amid fears that more people may still be trapped under the rubble.
Preliminary toll and searches under the rubble
According to the national disaster management agency, in addition to the fatalities there are also people injured to varying degrees. Institutions stressed that the figures are still preliminary and may change, while emergency teams are working in the hardest-hit areas.
Rescue operations have focused on buildings damaged by the main shock and by dozens of aftershocks, with the aim of pulling out people who may have remained trapped.
The quake in Flores and the risk from shallow tremors
According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 15 kilometers and struck shortly before 05:00 local time. Shallow earthquakes usually bring stronger consequences at the surface, making the impact on homes and infrastructure even more severe.
Strong aftershocks were also recorded in the same area, including one with a magnitude of 6.1, complicating response efforts and keeping the risk high for residents.
Scenes of collapse at the port and people caught in their sleep
Images from the port of Maumere show large chunks of concrete breaking off from the terminal building and falling onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. According to reports, some people ended up in the sea after the gangway connecting to the vessel collapsed.
In East Nusa Tenggara province, victims lost their lives while they were asleep, after houses collapsed and trapped them inside. This made the impact of the morning quake even more severe.
The tsunami alert was lifted after around three hours
After the earthquake, a tsunami warning was issued, which according to BBC reporting was lifted around three hours later. Although the alert did not last long, it triggered the immediate movement of residents away from coastal areas.
According to local officials, around 2,000 people had been evacuated or had left on their own initiative from at-risk areas. Local authorities have urged citizens not to enter buildings that have suffered cracks or structural damage.
The death toll may rise as searches continue in several locations hit by the earthquake. The full extent of the damage is still being verified amid aftershocks and fear among residents in the affected areas.