Five killed as powerful earthquake rattles Indonesia
News Desk
Jakarta: At least five people were killed after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early Saturday, triggering tsunami waves, forcing thousands to evacuate and damaging buildings and public infrastructure.
The earthquake hit at around 4:58am local time at a depth of 15 kilometres, according to Indonesia’s geophysics agency BMKG. A series of aftershocks followed, with strong tremors reported across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and parts of South Sulawesi.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said five people were killed after debris from collapsing structures fell on them while they were asleep. However, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency BNPB initially reported one death and four injuries.
The earthquake also prompted a tsunami warning, with waves of less than one metre recorded in several coastal areas. Authorities lifted the warning roughly three hours after the quake.
In Maumere, on Flores Island, parts of a building collapsed as frightened residents rushed into the streets. Video verified by Reuters showed dust and rubble falling from a structure at a local port.
Residents described intense shaking that lasted for nearly a minute in some areas. In Talibura village, resident Nona said 13 members of her family were inside their home when the earthquake struck and all rushed outside for safety.
Authorities said around 2,000 people in Nagekeo were evacuated, while houses, warehouses and government buildings were reported damaged. Power outages, traffic disruptions and at least one landslide were also reported.
At a hospital in Ende, patients were moved outside as a precaution following the strong tremors.
Australia’s tsunami warning centre said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to mainland Australia, its islands or territories.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and generate frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.
