Magnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes Indonesia's coast

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted the coast of Indonesia on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The seismic event's epicenter was located approximately 68 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 and was followed by three aftershocks, the USGS reported. As of now, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant material damage.

In response to the tremor, Indonesia's geophysical agency, BMKG, issued an early tsunami warning for several coastal areas within the country. However, Australia's tsunami warning center indicated that the underwater earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat to its continental landmass, islands, or territories.

Flores Island is home to an estimated two million people. Ende, the island's capital, has a population of about 90,000 and is situated on the southern coast, opposite the region where the earthquake's epicenter was registered. Indonesia, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences significant seismic and volcanic activity due to the convergence of tectonic plates.