Quake Strikes Flores Region
Off Indonesia's Flores coast, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred early Saturday. It had a depth of 10 kilometers and was centered 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende. Several aftershocks ensued, including a 6.1 magnitude quake.[S1][S5]
Following a powerful earthquake, Indonesia's geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami alert for several regions, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. After detecting no significant changes in sea levels, the warning was canceled. Some areas recorded minor tsunami waves.[S1][S2][S5]
Casualties and Damage
A minimum of 38 fatalities were reported, primarily in Sikka, West Manggarai, and East Manggarai, according to Suharyanto, the National Disaster Management Agency head. Landslides, such as one in Reok, Manggarai, resulted in multiple casualties, with 16 recovered. Dozens were injured and two remain missing under debris.[S1][S2]
The quake collapsed buildings and homes, causing panic across Flores island. In Maumere, the port terminal's waiting room collapsed, and at St Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students and nuns fled as a roof gave way; one priest broke a leg jumping from a second floor. Power outages disrupted communications, hampering rescue efforts, and landslides cut off the Trans-Flores highway.[S1][S3][S4]
Rescue and Response
In Maumere, rescue efforts led by Fathur Rahman uncovered at least 20 fatalities, with six people injured and two still trapped. Helicopters and a rescue vessel were deployed by the National Disaster Management Agency to navigate the island's terrain. Approximately 2,000 villagers from Nagekeo sought refuge in temporary shelters, where medical personnel established outdoor treatment facilities.[S1][S2][S3]
A second earthquake, magnitude 6.9, struck off northern Sumatra hours later, with no immediate casualties reported. Indonesia, with over 17,000 islands, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Past quakes, including a 1992 tsunami on Flores that killed about 2,500, highlight the region's vulnerability.[S3][S5][S6]
