Indonesia Hit by 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake; Port Building Collapses, Tsunami Warnings Issued

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted Indonesia's Flores Island region early Monday, leading to the collapse of a port waiting room and prompting tsunami warnings along the coast. The shallow quake, occurring at a depth of just 10 kilometers, struck at approximately 5:58 AM local time and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks, including quakes of magnitudes 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1.

In Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara province, the Lorens Say port waiting room crumbled under the seismic force. Online videos depict chaotic scenes of panicked travelers scrambling amidst falling debris, with some individuals plunging into the water as a boarding bridge collapsed. Local residents were seen rushing to assist those who had fallen into the sea.

The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued tsunami alerts for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and South and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, with potential wave heights estimated between 0.5 to 3 meters. Reports indicate that tsunami waves nearly 1 meter high have already been recorded in areas like Maurole.

Further inland, a monastery in Flores experienced its roof collapsing during morning prayers, causing worshippers to flee outdoors. One priest reportedly broke his leg after jumping from the second floor to escape. Authorities are still compiling casualty and damage reports following the significant seismic event.

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Port L. Say Maumere collapsed due to the earthquake. May Allah protect our brothers and sisters in NTT and its surroundings.