Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Damages Hotels, Public Facilities in Indonesia's NTT

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocked Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province on Saturday, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) initially reported a magnitude 7.0 tremor at 05:58 WITA, later revising it to M7.7.

Initial reports indicate that several structures sustained damage across various locations, with Labuan Bajo appearing to be among the most affected areas. The Hotel Jayakarta suffered considerable damage, particularly in its lobby, walls, and furnishings. The extent of damage to other public facilities is still being assessed.

BMKG has issued an advisory urging the public to remain calm and follow instructions from official bodies such as BMKG, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Residents are also cautioned against spreading unverified information.

Further details on the full extent of the damage and any potential casualties are expected as assessment teams reach affected areas. The earthquake's impact highlights the region's vulnerability to seismic activity.