Powerful earthquake kills at least 20 in eastern Indonesia, prompts evacuations

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia on Saturday, leaving at least 20 people dead and forcing thousands to flee coastal regions amid fears of rising waters. The tremor also caused panic, with hospital staff and patients evacuating due to cracked walls.

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Suddenly, it started shaking and I panicked. Patients also fled the hospital, the earthquake was strong. I saw that walls had cracked.

Rescue officials confirmed 20 fatalities, six injuries, and two individuals still trapped under debris. Following the initial quake, several aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.1, struck the region. Authorities had issued tsunami warnings for several provinces, cautioning of waves ranging from half a meter to three meters. However, the alert was later lifted, though sea levels will continue to be monitored.

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According to the information we have received, 20 people are dead, six are injured, and two are still buried.

Residents in affected areas were urged to evacuate to higher ground. On Flores Island, witnesses described scenes of panic as people fled the shaking ground and receding waters, a potential precursor to a tsunami. "The shaking was strong. Fortunately, we were already outside," said one resident who was at the market when the earthquake hit. "People were panicking, running in all directions. We are evacuating for now and trying to reach the heights."

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But we will continue to monitor the sea level.

Indonesia, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity. This earthquake follows a magnitude 6.2 tremor in early July that caused no casualties or major damage. In 2018, a devastating magnitude 7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Palu killed over 2,200 people.

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We urge the populations along the north coast of Flores and the southern areas, the southern islands and the southern region, to evacuate autonomously immediately.