A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's island of Flores early Saturday, killing at least five people and triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The quake, which hit at a depth of 15 kilometers, caused buildings to collapse and sent residents fleeing inland as the sea receded.
According to Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, the governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, the five victims died in their sleep. Search and rescue teams are combing through rubble to free people trapped in buildings.
Tsunami warning issued and lifted
The Indonesian agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics issued a tsunami warning shortly after the main quake struck, prompting streams of people to rush inland. Concrete reportedly fell off a terminal building at the port in Maumere, and some passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry were thrown into the sea as the gangway collapsed.
The tsunami warning was lifted around 8am local time, three hours after the main quake. Several aftershocks followed, with a maximum magnitude of 6.1, keeping residents outside for fear of further building collapses.
Residents describe panic and evacuation
Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura village in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, told the BBC: “I was startled awake and immediately went to my child’s room. Once we were outside, residents in our neighbourhood, which is located close to the shoreline, had already fled their homes and were heading toward the hills and crowding the roads, while some other residents were standing along the roadside because the sea had also receded.”
He said the water levels caused people to “panic and run” as it remained low for “quite some time.” Around 2,000 residents are said to have been evacuated in Nagekeo, with damage to several buildings.
Government assessment underway
The BNPB, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, said in a statement: “Residents should also avoid entering buildings, especially those that have already sustained cracks or structural damage. A rapid assessment is currently underway to determine the number of casualties and the extent of the impact. We will provide that information after the data has been verified.”
Most residents were asleep when the earthquake began, waking up to “very strong shaking” as the disaster unfolded. The full extent of casualties and damage is still being assessed as rescue operations continue.
