Indonesia quake triggers tsunami warning, damages homes off Flores

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores early Saturday, damaging buildings and triggering tsunami warnings. Residents moved to higher ground as officials tracked aftershocks, reviving memories of the region's deadly seismic past.

In Short

• Authorities urged coastal residents to move uphill and avoid beaches immediately
• The tremor struck near Ende at shallow depth, increasing surface impact
• Aftershocks followed the main jolt as officials closely monitored tide gauges

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, damaging homes and other buildings and triggering a tsunami warning in parts of the country. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Authorities warned people in affected coastal areas to move to higher ground and stay away from beaches and riverbanks, while officials monitored coastal tide gauges for any changes. The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of 10 km at 5:58 am local time. Its epicentre was 68 km north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces. Residents along affected coastlines were advised to move to higher ground as officials closely watched tide gauges.

The quake was felt across much of Flores Island. Initial reports indicated damage to homes and public facilities, though officials had not yet released estimates of the number of damaged buildings or any casualties. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka regency in East Nusa Tenggara province, said a number of buildings were damaged and panicked people ran to higher ground. "Many buildings here were damaged... I saw that the waiting room at the Pelni port terminal in Maumere had collapsed," she said.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In December 1992, a magnitude 7 earthquake caused a tsunami that killed about 2,500 people on the southeastern island of Flores. Saturday's quake off Flores led to fresh damage, aftershocks and tsunami alerts, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.

With PTI Inputs

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