A devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, killing at least 53 people and forcing thousands to evacuate.
The quake was followed by nearly 1,000 aftershocks. Numerous buildings collapsed, while residents feared a tsunami.
“The shock was so strong that we all ran for our lives,” said one resident.
Tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) were recorded in several areas after the early-morning quake. Authorities lifted a tsunami warning three hours later.
Rescuers in Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, found 20 dead, six injured and two people trapped under rubble, according to Fathur Rahman, head of the city’s rescue agency. Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), reported residents remained trapped in several buildings across the affected area with landslides blocking roads.
Teams have yet to reach Nagekeo due to landslides, though a ferry team is attempting to arrive. About 2,000 residents evacuated from Nagekeo, and damage was reported to homes, warehouses and government buildings. Power outages and traffic congestion also affected parts of the regency.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena stated that at least five people died when buildings collapsed as they slept. The U.S. Geological Survey identified the epicenter as “42 miles north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.”
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake later struck western Sumatra island, and authorities recorded at least 995 aftershocks—though only 46 were felt by residents. Over 900 homes were destroyed and 450 more damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province, forcing about 5,000 people into temporary shelters. At least 241 homes were damaged in the Flores region alone.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko warned that power outages hampered communication and search efforts, while landslides had blocked the Trans-Flores highway. The earthquake also destroyed more than 100 public facilities, including schools, medical centers and churches.
