Indonesia Hit by 7.7 Magnitude Quake: At Least 20 Feared Dead

AFP Reports Citing Search and Rescue Authorities
Tsunami Warning Lifted, Monitoring Continues
Residents Remain Anxious Amid Ongoing Aftershocks

On August 15, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast near Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, reportedly leaving at least 20 dead. At one point, a major tsunami warning was issued, forecasting waves of up to 3 meters, but this warning has now been lifted. With aftershocks continuing, residents remain in a state of anxiety.

People are evacuating from the ruins of a Jakarta hotel building collapsed due to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that occurred near Flores Island, Indonesia, on the 15th. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On this day, AFP reported, citing search and rescue authorities in Maumere, Flores Island, that 20 people have died, six have been injured, and two remain trapped in the rubble. Previously, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced that two people had been killed in the earthquake, but the casualty figures appear to have risen since then.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at around 5:58 a.m. off the northern coast of Flores Island, in East Nusa Tenggara province, which is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands in eastern Indonesia. The epicenter was located about 68 km northwest of Ende, at a depth of 15 km. Strong aftershocks followed, including one with a magnitude of 6.1.

Strong tremors were felt in regions including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi. In Maumere, part of a building collapsed, and a hospital in Ende region evacuated its patients outside as a precaution. Around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and damage was reported to homes, warehouses, and government facilities in the area.

After the earthquake occurred, residents ran out of their homes barefoot and are walking in the streets. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

One resident said, "Thirteen members of my family were inside the house, but we all ran outside due to the strong shock." Another resident commented, "People are panicking and evacuating towards the hills."

The Indonesian Meteorological Agency initially warned of a tsunami with expected waves between 0.5 and 3 meters. However, the observed waves were less than one meter. The warning has since been lifted, but authorities continue to monitor sea levels closely.

Indonesia is situated on the 'Ring of Fire,' the Pacific earthquake belt, making it prone to frequent large earthquakes. In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami occurred off the coast of Sumatra, killing approximately 220,000 people in the region, with about 170,000 fatalities in Indonesia alone.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.