Powerful earthquake in Indonesia leaves 20 dead, thousands displaced

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A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Indonesia’s Flores island on Saturday, killing at least 20 people and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate as emergency teams continued rescue operations.

Rescue official Fathur Rahman said at least 20 people had died in four towns across the island, while six others were injured and two people remained trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Nagekeo regency, the area closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, was among the worst affected. Rescue efforts faced difficulties as landslides blocked several roads and disrupted access to damaged areas.

Residents in coastal areas moved to higher ground after noticing the sea level falling, which raised fears of a possible tsunami. Authorities later cancelled the tsunami warning but advised people to avoid damaged buildings due to the risk of further collapses from aftershocks.

The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, with the strongest measuring 6.1 magnitude.

The epicentre of the shallow earthquake was located off the northern coast of Flores island, about 68 kilometres northwest of Ende, according to Indonesian and US authorities.

Rescue teams recovered bodies from damaged buildings in Maumere, while some survivors were pulled from the rubble. Officials said the full scale of destruction was still being assessed.

Residents reported widespread panic as strong tremors shook the region. Some hospital patients also fled buildings after cracks appeared in hospital walls.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency initially issued a tsunami alert and urged residents to move to safer locations. The warning was later withdrawn, but authorities continued monitoring sea conditions.

Indonesia frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, one of the world’s most active seismic zones. Flores was previously hit by a major 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1992, which triggered a tsunami and killed around 2,500 people.