FLORES, Indonesia — At least 51 people have been killed and thousands displaced after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, triggering landslides, damaging homes and cutting off roads and communications.
The earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island on Saturday at a depth of about 10 kilometres, according to earthquake monitoring agencies. The powerful tremor caused widespread damage across parts of East Nusa Tenggara province.
Rescue teams are continuing to search damaged areas as authorities assess the full scale of the disaster. More than 5,000 people have been displaced, while hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Landslides have blocked important roads, making it difficult for emergency crews to reach some of the worst-hit communities.
Officials initially issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake, but the warning was later lifted. More than 200 aftershocks have also been recorded, adding to fears among residents and complicating rescue operations.
Many residents spent the night outdoors, afraid to return to buildings because of continuing aftershocks. Emergency workers are delivering food, water and other supplies while authorities work to restore damaged infrastructure.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
With rescue operations still underway, authorities warn that the death toll could rise as teams reach isolated areas and continue searching through damaged buildings.
