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🇮🇹 Italy /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesia earthquake kills 38, damages homes

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 38 people and damaging over 70 homes.
  • The epicenter was off the island of Flores, with the quake occurring at a shallow depth.
  • An initial tsunami warning was issued but later revoked, though authorities continue to monitor sea levels.

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocked eastern Indonesia, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming at least 38 lives. The tremor struck early Saturday morning, with its epicenter located offshore near the island of Flores at a shallow depth. Local authorities confirmed the rising death toll and reported that over 70 homes sustained damage, ranging from severe to minor. Six government offices, five health facilities, and a school were also affected.

But we will continue to monitor the sea level.

— WijayatoA Wijayato, an official from the national geophysics agency, assured journalists that monitoring would continue after a tsunami warning was initially issued and then revoked.

Initially, a tsunami warning was issued for the affected coastal areas, prompting urgent evacuation orders for residents to move to higher ground. "We urge people along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern areas, in the southern islands and the southern region, to evacuate autonomously and immediately," stated Abdul Muhari, an official from the national disaster management agency. The tsunami warning was later revoked, but authorities stressed that sea level monitoring would continue.

We urge people along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern areas, in the southern islands and the southern region, to evacuate autonomously and immediately.

— Abdul MuhariAbdul Muhari, an official from the national disaster management agency, urged residents to evacuate coastal and low-lying areas following the earthquake.

Survivors recounted scenes of panic and chaos. "Suddenly, it started shaking and I panicked," said Lukas Lotar, a hospital patient manager, describing how patients fled the building as walls cracked. Another resident, Yulian Juita Ekalia, described the terrifying experience: "I have never felt an earthquake of this magnitude. It felt like being on a trampoline." She recounted how everything in her house fell as she rushed outside with her son and neighbors.

Suddenly, it started shaking and I panicked.

— Lukas LotarLukas Lotar, a hospital patient manager, described the immediate fear and chaos when the earthquake struck.

Several aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.1, followed the initial quake, adding to the anxiety in the region. The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (Bnpb) provided updated figures on casualties and damage, highlighting the significant impact on communities in Nusa Tenggara Oriental province.

Even the patients fled the hospital; the earthquake was strong. I saw that the walls had cracked.

— Lukas LotarLukas Lotar recounted the impact of the earthquake on the hospital where he works.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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