At least 14 people have died following a severe 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Flores, according to the national disaster management agency. The tremor occurred on Saturday morning.
Authorities stressed that these casualty figures are preliminary, as rescue efforts were still underway, though some local helpers reported the death toll could be as high as 20. Numerous other people sustained injuries in the event.
The earthquake, which occurred around 5 a.m. local time at a depth of 15 kilometers, caused extensive damage across the region, particularly exacerbated by related aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1. The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency stated that a quake closer to the surface generally has a greater destructive impact. Specific incidents included parts of a terminal building collapsing at the port of Maumere, with concrete fragments falling onto passengers awaiting a ferry. During the pier collapse, several people were thrown into the sea.
The governor of the East Nusa Tenggara province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, reported that victims were killed by collapsing debris while asleep.
Initially, a tsunami warning was issued, but it was lifted approximately three hours after the earthquake because no significant rise in sea level was detected. Many people had fled inland on motorcycles, and the BNPB agency estimates that around 2,000 people were successfully brought to safety.
The agency reported the following deaths by province: three in Sikka, six in Manggarai, and five in East Manggarai. Overall, two people were severely injured and eleven suffered minor injuries.
Indonesian geography makes it prone to such disasters, as the country sits at the meeting point of several tectonic plates, making it frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
