New 5.7 Magnitude Quake Hits Indonesia's Flores Island After Deadly 7.7 Tremor

Indonesia's Flores Island experienced another earthquake on Monday, a magnitude 5.7 tremor that struck the eastern part of the island. This new seismic event occurred just two days after a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit the same region. The earlier quake has so far claimed 53 lives, injured 137 people, and forced more than 5,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The recent tremor, recorded at 8:46 a.m. local time, had its epicenter about 42 kilometers northwest of Ende, the most populous town on Flores, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It occurred at a depth of 35.6 kilometers. The initial powerful earthquake on Saturday was followed by nearly a thousand aftershocks, with 46 being felt by residents. In response to the scale of the disaster, the provincial government is processing a decree to declare a state of emergency for the next 14 days. This measure aims to streamline aid coordination with central authorities. Approximately 2 million people reside on Flores Island, with Ende, home to about 90,000 inhabitants, being one of its main cities. Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.