Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Off Indonesia's Flores Island; Tsunami Warning Issued

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 jolted the waters off the northern coast of Indonesia's Flores Island late Tuesday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The seismic event occurred at a relatively shallow depth of only 10 kilometers. In its immediate aftermath, the area experienced two significant aftershocks, measuring 5.6 and 5.9 in magnitude, further unsettling the region.

Following the main tremor, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a warning for the potential of tsunamis. The region is highly susceptible to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific.

Indonesia and its neighboring countries are frequently affected by earthquakes because of their position along this active geological zone.