Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Hits Indonesia's Flores Coast, Tsunami Alert Issued

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island on [Date of Article - not provided, assumed to be recent]. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter situated 68 kilometers north of the city of Ende.

The seismic event triggered a tsunami alert from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The agency warned of the possibility of waves reaching up to 0.94 meters along the coast of Ende. Several aftershocks, with magnitudes up to 6.3, were also recorded.

While official details on fatalities are still pending, material damage has been reported. The BMKG has advised residents in coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground as authorities closely monitor tidal gauges for any significant changes. Approximately 2 million people live on Flores Island, with Ende having a population of around 90,000.