Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits Indonesia, five people dead

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Tuesday, killing at least five people and causing buildings to collapse, sparking panic in the earthquake-prone region.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground. The warning was later lifted when the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported no significant sea level changes threatening coastal communities.

The quake hit Indonesia's Flores Island region at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks followed the initial tremor.

Police reported five fatalities in two separate parts of the region, with significant damage and building collapses. Power outages in towns and villages are disrupting information flow and complicating search and rescue operations. Initial reports indicate substantial damage across Flores Island and panic in Bima city, West Nusa Tenggara province, with some damage also reported in parts of South Sulawesi island.

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

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We are still collecting data on damage and casualties, but there are communication disruptions.