A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's Flores region early on Saturday, killing at least 38 people and collapsing buildings, with search and rescue operations under way.
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Key facts
- A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday.
- At least 38 people have been reported killed, with the toll rising through the day.
- A tsunami warning was issued and later lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea level changes.
- Dozens of aftershocks were recorded, including one of magnitude 6.1.
- A search and rescue operation is under way in Flores.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 38 people and causing widespread panic across the Flores region, according to the Guardian and the BBC. The shallow quake collapsed buildings and homes in an area long prone to deadly seismic events.
The earthquake struck off Flores island, in the country’s east, early on Saturday morning. It prompted thousands of residents to seek higher ground amid fears of a tsunami, the Guardian reported.
Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning in the immediate aftermath, but it has since been lifted. Officials said monitoring showed no significant sea level changes that could indicate a tsunami, according to the Guardian.
Dozens of aftershocks followed the initial quake, including one with a magnitude of 6.1, adding to the danger for residents and emergency workers in the affected area.
The reported death toll rose steadily through Saturday. Early figures cited by the BBC and the Guardian ranged from at least five to 20 people before both outlets reported at least 38 dead as the day progressed.
A search and rescue operation is under way in Flores to find survivors, the BBC reported, as authorities work to assess the full scale of the damage.
Why it matters
Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and is regularly hit by powerful earthquakes that can cause heavy casualties. A shallow quake of this strength near populated areas poses serious risks to lives and infrastructure, and the rising death toll underscores the ongoing danger to communities in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the earthquake strike?
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia early on Saturday morning, according to the BBC and the Guardian.
Was a tsunami warning issued?
Yes. Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning that was later lifted. Officials said monitoring showed no significant sea level changes that could indicate a tsunami, the Guardian reported.
How many people have died?
At least 38 people have been reported killed, according to the BBC and the Guardian, with the toll rising through the day as rescue efforts continued.
Timeline
- Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills at least 47 in Indonesia
BBC World: A search and rescue operation is under way to find survivors in Flores, an island in eastern Indonesia.
- Powerful earthquake kills dozens in eastern Indonesia
The Guardian World: Quake struck Flores region early on Saturday, prompting thousands to seek higher ground for fear of a tsunami A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, has killed at least 40 people, causing widespread panic and collapsing buildings and homes in a region prone to
- Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills at least 38 in Indonesia
BBC World: A search and rescue operation is under way to find survivors in Flores, an island in eastern Indonesia.
- Powerful earthquake kills at least 38 in eastern Indonesia
The Guardian World: Quake struck Flores region early on Saturday, prompting thousands to seek higher ground for fear of a tsunami A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 38 people, causing widespread panic and collapsing buildings and homes in a region
- Powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake kills at least 38 in Indonesia
BBC World: A search and rescue operation is under way to find survivors in Flores, an island in eastern Indonesia.
- At least 20 dead after 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia
BBC World: The earthquake struck off Flores island in the country's east early on Saturday morning.
- At least 14 dead after 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia
BBC World: The earthquake struck off Flores island in the country's east early on Saturday morning.
- Five dead after 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia
BBC World: The earthquake struck off Flores island in the country's east early on Saturday morning.
- Strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, killing at least five
The Guardian World: Shallow quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region early on Saturday, prompting thousands to seek higher ground A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake struck eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least five people, causing widespread panic and collapsing buildings and homes in a regio
- Strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, killing at least 20
The Guardian World: Shallow quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region early on Saturday, prompting thousands to seek higher ground A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake struck eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 20 people, causing widespread panic and collapsing buildings and homes in a region
- Strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, killing at least 38
The Guardian World: Shallow quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region early on Saturday, prompting thousands to seek higher ground A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake struck eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 38 people, causing widespread panic and collapsing buildings and homes in a region