Five dead after powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early Saturday, claiming the lives of at least five people. The tremor, centered near Flores Island, caused significant destruction, leading to building collapses and prompting a tsunami warning for coastal areas.

Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara reported that the five fatalities occurred when buildings collapsed while residents were sleeping. Rescue teams are currently working to search through damaged structures and determine the full scope of the devastation. The earthquake's shallow depth and strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1 magnitude, added to the region's instability.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning shortly after the main quake, urging residents in coastal zones to move to higher ground. While the warning was eventually lifted after about three hours, as no major tsunami threat materialized, waves of less than a meter were observed in some locations. Footage from the port city of Maumere depicted a distressing scene, with parts of a terminal building collapsing as passengers were preparing to board a ferry, and some individuals were reportedly thrown into the sea due to a gangway failure.

In Nagekeo, approximately 2,000 residents were evacuated. The disaster has damaged numerous homes, warehouses, and government facilities. Power outages and communication disruptions have further complicated relief efforts. Indonesia's national disaster agency has advised residents to remain calm and avoid coastal areas and damaged buildings as assessments continue.

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The five victims were killed when buildings collapsed while they were sleeping.