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A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia early Saturday, striking off the coast of Flores Island and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. Thousands of residents fled in panic as the quake's tremors were felt across the region.

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Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked. Patients also fled the hospital, the jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked.

In the Nagekeo regency, the area nearest the epicenter, residents rushed to higher ground. Journalists observed the sea receding from the shore, a potential precursor to a tsunami. The shallow quake's epicenter was located approximately 68 kilometers northwest of the coastal town of Ende, according to US and Indonesian geological agencies. The initial tremor was followed by several strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1 magnitude.

"Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked," said Lukas Lotar, a 31-year-old hospital customer service official in Maumere. "Patients also fled the hospital, the jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked." Yohanes Babo, a 56-year-old resident of Nagekeo, described the intense shaking while he was at a market. "The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house," he told AFP. "People were panicking, running here and there. We're evacuating for the time being... and trying to get to the hills," he added, confirming his family was safe.

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The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house. People were panicking, running here and there. We're evacuating for the time being... and trying to get to the hills.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned of potential tsunami waves and urged immediate self-evacuation for communities along the northern coast of Flores and southern regions. Abdul Muhari, an official at the national disaster agency, BNPB, advised residents to move inland more than two kilometers or ascend hills over 10 meters high. Tsunami modeling suggested potential waves ranging from 0.5 to 3 meters in East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara provinces.

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We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts, on the southern islands and across the southern region, to carry out self-evacuation immediately.

The tsunami warning was eventually lifted, although monitoring of sea levels continued. Images showed hundreds of people evacuating amidst damaged buildings. While authorities reported no casualties, they confirmed detecting tsunami waves between 19 and 30 centimeters. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

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We have ended (the tsunami warning) but we will keep monitoring the sea level.