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

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Indonesia's Flores region on Saturday morning, prompting a tsunami warning from the country's meteorological agency. The quake, with a depth of 10 kilometers, struck at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Following the initial tremor, two aftershocks were recorded. Authorities issued a tsunami warning, advising residents along affected coastlines to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and move to higher ground. Coastal tide gauges are being closely monitored for any changes.

Indonesia, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is highly susceptible to seismic activity due to its location on numerous fault lines and volcanic arcs. While the immediate impact of this earthquake is still being assessed, no casualties or damage were immediately reported. Australia's tsunami warning center confirmed there was no tsunami threat to its mainland, islands, or territories.