Powerful earthquake shakes NTT, Indonesia; tremors felt in NTB, triggering panic

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province on Saturday morning, causing widespread panic and tremors felt as far as the neighboring province of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB).

The quake, centered about 37 kilometers north of Mbay in NTT at a depth of 15 kilometers, struck at approximately 6:58 AM local time. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted two hours after the initial tremor. Residents in Bima, Sumbawa, and Lombok fled their homes in fear.

Niningsih, a resident of Bima, described the intense shaking that rattled her home. She recounted rushing to her sick parents' room while her children slept, eventually finding them outside with her husband. "The earthquake lasted a long time, and there were aftershocks," she said. In Desa Sondosia, Bima, most residents evacuated their homes, though relief spread as they realized they were far from the epicenter.

While Bima experienced damage to several buildings, no deaths were reported there. However, initial reports confirmed one fatality in NTT, with four others injured, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The tsunami warning caused significant alarm, particularly in coastal areas of Wera and Sampe districts, where some residents flocked to the shore to observe the receding tide, while others moved their families inland.

Residents in Lombok also felt the tremors. Fifi Ratnasari, living in Mataram City, immediately grabbed her children and evacuated their home. The experience brought back traumatic memories of the devastating earthquakes in July-August 2018 that claimed over 500 lives on Lombok. Despite the fear, the immediate tsunami threat subsided, with water levels returning to normal along the coast.