Magnitude 7.7 Quake Hits Eastern Indonesia, Leaving Two Dead

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia in the early hours of Saturday, claiming at least two lives and injuring one person, according to the country's disaster mitigation agency, BNPB.

The quake, which occurred at a depth of 15 kilometres, was followed by several aftershocks. The geophysics agency BMKG recorded the initial tremor at 4:58 a.m. local time. Strong shaking was felt across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, with residents in several areas reporting tremors lasting about a minute.

A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the earthquake but was lifted approximately three hours later. Tsunami waves measuring less than one metre were recorded in several locations along the coast.

In Sikka Regency on Flores Island, the main town of Maumere saw parts of a building collapse into rubble as panicked residents ran into the streets. Video footage from the port area showed the chaotic scene. Elsewhere, a hospital in the Ende district moved patients outdoors as a precaution, and at least one landslide was reported.

BNPB stated that most people felt the shock and fled their homes. Meanwhile, Australia's tsunami warning centre confirmed that the undersea earthquake posed no threat to the Australian mainland, islands, or territories.