Tsunami warning issued after strong earthquake off Indonesia's coast

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 jolted parts of Indonesia, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers, approximately 70 kilometers northwest of the town of Ende on Flores Island. The tremor was followed by aftershocks measuring 6.1 and 5.9 magnitude. The area experiencing severe shaking is home to around 1.5 million people.

As of the report, there were no immediate details regarding potential damage or casualties. Flores Island is part of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. The western part of the island, including the tourist hub of Labuan Bajo, is known for diving and visits to Komodo National Park, home to the large monitor lizards.

The central part of the island, around Ende, is more remote and less frequented by tourists. Flores is one of over 17,000 islands in the Southeast Asian nation, which lies within the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.