Indonesian Residents Flee to Higher Ground Amidst Earthquake and Tsunami Scare

Residents of the Selayar Islands in South Sulawesi experienced panic and evacuated to hills and mountains following a tsunami early warning triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on Saturday morning. Although the tremors were felt in Selayar, the primary impact of the earthquake was centered elsewhere.

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The situation is currently relatively safe. Only vibrations were felt, just once this morning.

Ahmad Aliefyanto, head of the Selayar Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), stated that the region only experienced vibrations from the main quake. However, he noted that residents on the outer islands, still traumatized by past events, became panicked and sought refuge on higher ground, even without an official evacuation order.

Aliefyanto assured that the situation in the Selayar Islands is now relatively safe and stable. He confirmed that only a single, brief tremor was felt in the morning. Despite the lack of significant damage or casualties in Selayar, the preemptive evacuation highlights the lingering fear of tsunamis in coastal communities.

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Yes, but our people on the special islands, unfortunately, they are traumatized by that. So, everyone panicked and ran up the mountain to evacuate, even though there was no order for that. The stages are just to get out of the house first.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that as of 10:00 AM WITA, 111 aftershocks had occurred following the main 7.7 magnitude earthquake in NTT. While the magnitude of these aftershocks has decreased, the BMKG urged residents in Flores to remain vigilant. The tsunami early warning has since been rescinded.

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Yes, it was very strong this morning, but there were no damaged buildings.