A strong earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale hit off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, along with widespread destruction of buildings and homes. Given the region’s history with major earthquakes, the tremors caused considerable alarm.
Officials reported that six individuals sustained injuries, and two people were unaccounted for due to landslides triggered by the earthquake.
A tsunami warning was initially issued, prompting coastal residents to evacuate to safer, elevated areas. However, the alert was eventually rescinded after Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency confirmed that no significant changes in sea level were detected that could endanger coastal dwellers.
The U.S. Geological Survey noted that the earthquake struck at a depth of roughly 10 kilometers in the Flores region around 5:58 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located about 68 miles north-northwest of Ende City, in East Nusa Tenggara.
This first quake was followed by several aftershocks.
Fatur Rahman, the head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency, stated that rescue teams had retrieved at least 20 bodies from three severely affected districts: Sikka, West Manggarai, and East Manggarai. Eight of those bodies were found in a landslide in Leok village, Manggarai.
Six injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals.
Rescue teams are still on the lookout for two villagers thought to be trapped under mud from the landslides.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudy Darmoko indicated there was severe infrastructural damage and noted that many buildings had collapsed.
He also pointed out that power outages in various towns were hampering information flow and complicating rescue efforts. “We are uncovering reports of damage and casualties, but communication issues are hindering our response,” Darmoko explained. The landslides in Ende province caused by the quake also disrupted the Trans-Flores Highway, a major roadway spanning about 435 miles across the island.
Local television footage showed hospital staff evacuating patients as a precaution following the earthquake.
In response to the emergency, the National Disaster Management Authority announced the deployment of helicopters to support operations, including logistics and possible evacuations if needed. This air support is critical due to the numerous islands in East Nusa Tenggara, which present significant transportation challenges.
Reports indicate that around 2,000 residents in the Nagekeo District have been moved to temporary evacuation centers.
Shaking felt across Flores Island and beyond
The earthquake’s impact was felt throughout much of Flores, with initial evaluations revealing considerable damage.
Johanna Embu, a resident from Sikka province, described how the tremors brought down several buildings and caused widespread panic. “Many structures were damaged… I even saw the terminal’s waiting room at the port in Maumere collapse,” she shared.
Students at St. Peter’s Seminary, gathering for morning mass in Sikka province, fled in terror when the roof of the building collapsed. Rev. Gidelbertus Tanga, the seminary’s rector, recounted that students and nuns rushed out from beneath the falling debris. “One priest even broke his leg jumping from the second floor of a building during the earthquake,” he added.
Additionally, panic was reported in Labuan Bajo, a key town for tourists heading to Komodo National Park, one of Indonesia’s most renowned sites, and damage occurred in other cities including Bima in West Nusa Tenggara along with parts of South Sulawesi.
Indonesian authorities had initially cautioned residents in parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and South Sulawesi to steer clear of beaches and riverbanks due to the tsunami alert.
Indonesia and its earthquake vulnerabilities
Indonesia, an expansive archipelago with over 17,000 islands, faces frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, primarily because it’s situated along the Pacific Basin’s Ring of Fire, a zone filled with volcanoes and tectonic faults.
In 1992, a strong earthquake triggered a tsunami that claimed about 2,500 lives on Flores. More recently, in 2018, a 7.5 magnitude quake resulted in a locally generated tsunami that caused extensive destruction, particularly in Palu, where entire neighborhoods transformed into rivers of sludge due to liquefaction.
The 2018 disaster left over 4,400 people dead. Earlier, in 2010, massive waves following an offshore earthquake devastated the Mentawai Islands, resulting in more than 400 fatalities and extensive property damage. Moreover, a devastating 9.1 magnitude earthquake in December 2004 caused a tsunami that resulted in the deaths of 230,000 individuals across 12 countries.
