At least 20 dead in powerful earthquake off Indonesia's Flores coast

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island on Friday, claiming the lives of at least 20 people. The tremor, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, caused widespread damage, including the collapse of numerous buildings.

Communication disruptions and power outages complicated the immediate aftermath, hindering the ability of local authorities to gather information and conduct search and rescue operations. "We continue to collect reports of damage and casualties, but there are communication disruptions," a local official stated.

Images from the scene showed collapsed structures and hospital patients being evacuated as a precautionary measure. Medical staff moved equipment outside to establish temporary treatment areas.

Indonesian authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning, urging coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground. However, the warning was later withdrawn by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics, which reported no significant sea level changes.

Indonesia, situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

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We continue to collect reports of damage and casualties, but there are communication disruptions.