Two Dead Following Magnitude 7.7 Flores Earthquake; Tsunami Warnings Lifted

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Nagekeo Regency in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday morning, causing significant tremors and prompting tsunami warnings. As of Saturday morning, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed two deaths.

Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, reported that both fatalities occurred in the El Say Port area of Sikka Regency. The victims included one man and one woman, with one other person sustaining injuries.

The tectonic earthquake originated at a depth of 15 kilometers, with its epicenter located at sea, approximately 38 kilometers northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo. Strong shaking was felt for about a minute across Nagekeo, Sikka, and West Manggarai on Flores Island, with tremors extending to Bima in West Nusa Tenggara and several districts in South Sulawesi.

In response to the potential tsunami threat, local disaster management agencies, along with joint teams from the Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the military (TNI), and the police (Polri), initiated coastal evacuations and provided medical assistance. Several aftershocks, including two magnitude 6.2 tremors, were recorded shortly after the main quake.

While the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) initially issued tsunami warnings for NTT, NTB, and South Sulawesi, the alert was officially lifted at 7:30 a.m. WIB. The BNPB urged the public, particularly those in coastal areas, to remain calm, avoid damaged buildings, and follow evacuation orders from officials.

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Based on preliminary reports, the earthquake affected the El Say Port area in Sikka Regency. The incident resulted in two deaths, one man and one woman, while one person sustained injuries.