Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes East Nusa Tenggara, Damaging Hotels in Labuan Bajo

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, on Saturday morning, causing panic and damage, particularly in the popular tourist destination of Labuan Bajo.

The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) initially recorded the earthquake at M7.0 at 5:58 AM WITA but later revised its magnitude to M7.7. The quake's epicenter was located about 30 kilometers northeast of Nagekeo Regency, at a shallow depth of 15 kilometers. Following the tremor, BMKG issued a tsunami early warning for several coastal regions, including parts of NTT and South Sulawesi, with some areas placed on "Siaga" (alert) status and others on "Waspada" (watch) status.

Residents in Labuan Bajo reportedly fled their homes in fear as the strong shaking occurred. Damage was observed in several locations across the town. Hotel Jayakarta, a prominent hotel, suffered considerable damage to its lobby, walls, and furnishings. Minor damage was also reported at public facilities such as churches, hospitals, and schools within Labuan Bajo.

BMKG urged the public to remain calm, follow official guidance from relevant agencies, and avoid spreading unverified information. The agency also noted the potential for aftershocks and further tsunami activity. As of Saturday morning, the Manggarai Barat Regency government had not yet released official statements regarding the full extent of the damage or estimated losses.

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Pemutakhiran nya 7,7 SR. Ada potensi tsunami dan kemungkinan gempa susulan masih bisa terjadi.