7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's Flores Island; AFP Reports at Least 20 Dead, 6 Injured

A strong magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia has left at least 20 people dead and 6 injured, according to AFP.

Citing a local disaster agency official, AFP reported that 20 people were killed across four villages following the earthquake off the northern coast of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, located in the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands.

"According to reports we received, six people were also injured, and two others remain trapped under the rubble," the official said.

Previously, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) initially announced that two people had died, but later revised the casualty figures to one person dead and four injured.

Authorities have not released any further casualty updates since.

While officials plan to focus on searching for trapped victims, rescue operations are reportedly facing difficulties as multiple roads have been blocked by landslides.

Local rescue teams are carrying out rescue operations across various parts of Flores Island.

After Indonesia's Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning just two minutes after the initial earthquake, thousands of residents evacuated in areas including Nagekeo on Flores Island, which is closest to the epicenter, as well as Maumere and Ende.

AFP reported that evacuating residents formed long lines using motorcycles and cars, with some fleeing in the truck beds of vehicles.

Johanna Embu, a resident of Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara province, told the Associated Press, "Many exterior walls of buildings were damaged here," adding, "The waiting room of the port terminal also collapsed."

In a nearby area, the roof of a Catholic seminary's auditorium collapsed, and students and priests were seen fleeing in panic.

"When the earthquake struck, a priest jumped from the second floor of the building," an official at the seminary said, adding, "His leg was broken."

Although the BMKG lifted the tsunami warning after three hours as no sea level changes threatening coastal areas were observed, authorities continue to remain prepared for potential contingencies.

"While we have lifted the tsunami warning, we will continue to monitor sea level conditions," said Daryono, head of the earthquake and tsunami center at BMKG.

The magnitude 7.7 strong earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores Island at approximately 5:58 a.m. today, followed by 52 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 3.6 to 6.2.

The tremors from the earthquake were felt across most parts of Flores Island.

Indonesia is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra's Aceh province triggered a tsunami that killed 170,000 people.

In 1992, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake followed by a tsunami struck Flores Island, killing approximately 2,500 people.

(Photo provided by Indonesia National Search and Rescue Agency, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.