Magnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes Indonesia's coast

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted the coast of Indonesia on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The seismic event's epicenter was situated approximately 62 kilometers northwest of Ende, a town on Flores Island, and 162 kilometers east-northeast of Labuan Bajo.

The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers. As of the latest reports, there have been no confirmed casualties or material damage resulting from the tremor. It remains unclear whether local authorities have issued any tsunami alerts following the earthquake.

Flores Island is home to an estimated 2 million people, with its capital, Ende, located on the southern coast, opposite the earthquake's origin point. Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high frequency of seismic and volcanic activity due to the convergence of tectonic plates. The archipelago, comprising over 17,000 islands, frequently experiences significant earthquakes.