Indonesia Earthquake Kills at Least Five, Tsunami Warning Issued

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia early Saturday, claiming at least five lives as buildings collapsed and trapped sleeping residents. The quake struck at 4:58 AM local time, approximately 68 kilometers northwest of Ende, at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Most victims were caught unaware in their sleep, with fatalities resulting from falling debris as structures gave way. The governor of East Nusa Tenggara province confirmed two deaths in the Sikka region and three in Manggarai. Officials anticipate the death toll will climb as rescue teams assess the full extent of the damage in the affected zones.

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The death toll is possible to increase.

Following the main tremor, Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami early warning. At least two strong aftershocks, measuring 5.9 and 5.6 magnitude, were recorded off the northern coast of the Sikka region. Residents in vulnerable areas fled their homes, seeking higher ground and safer locations.

The USGS estimates that over 500,000 people on Flores Island may have experienced very strong shaking, with millions more in the wider region feeling moderate to strong tremors. Indonesia, an archipelago nation of over 270 million people spread across roughly 17,000 islands, lies within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area notorious for intense seismic and volcanic activity.

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Two people died in the Sikka region, and three others in the Manggarai region.