Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia and tsunami warning issued

A significant 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted the waters off Indonesia's Flores island in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, causing damage to structures and triggering a tsunami warning. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake's magnitude and shallow depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located approximately 68 km north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

The tremors were widely felt across Flores, leading to reports of damaged homes and public facilities. In Sikka, a regency within East Nusa Tenggara, residents described buildings collapsing. Yohanna Embu, a local resident, witnessed the waiting room at the Maumere port terminal crumble. At the St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students and nuns fled in panic as the roof of an assembly hall collapsed during morning Mass. At least one priest reportedly suffered a broken leg after jumping from a second-story building.

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Many buildings here were damaged … I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. Authorities urged people in vulnerable coastal areas to seek higher ground and maintain a safe distance from beaches and riverbanks. Coastal tide gauges are under close observation for any significant changes.

Indonesia, an archipelago nation, is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region known for its high seismic and volcanic activity. This geographical location makes the country particularly prone to such natural disasters. The region has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, including a magnitude 7 quake in 1992 that caused a tsunami killing approximately 2,500 people on Flores island.

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Our students and nuns ran out in panic beneath a collapsing roof. At least one priest suffered a broken leg after jumping from the second floor of a building during the quake.