Powerful 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's Flores Island; At Least 5 Dead

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted Indonesia's Flores Island on Saturday morning, killing at least five people and damaging buildings. The main tremor struck about 68 kilometers northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province around 6 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks.

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At least five people were killed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island on Saturday morning.

The USGS estimates that approximately 500,000 people experienced very strong or severe shaking, causing residents to flee their homes. Indonesia's national disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, reported that an initial tsunami warning was issued following the quake but was later lifted. Around 2,000 residents in the Nagekeo regency evacuated as a precautionary measure.

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About 500,000 people were exposed to very strong or severe shaking, which damaged buildings and shocked residents awake, forcing them to flee their homes.

Early damage assessments indicate that about 15 buildings, including homes and government offices, sustained damage. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 49 kilometers, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). Indonesia, situated at the convergence of three major tectonic plates, is highly susceptible to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

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An initial tsunami warning was triggered following the quake but was later lifted.