Kathmandu— A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia early Saturday morning, killing at least 47 people and collapsing buildings across the region. The quake, centered near Flores Island, triggered landslides and small tsunamis, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning that was later lifted. Rescue efforts are underway, but hampered by power outages, damaged infrastructure, and difficult access to remote villages where many residents remain unaccounted for.

Earthquake And Tsunami Impact

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 68 km (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. A tsunami warning was initially issued for several provinces, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, but was later lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that posed a widespread threat. However, smaller tsunamis were reported, with waves reaching up to 1.61 meters (5.3 feet) in the coastal village of Riung and 0.94 meters (3.1 feet) in Maurole.

Damage And Casualties Mount

East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko reported that at least 47 bodies have been recovered, primarily in Sikka, Manggarai and East Manggarai regencies, with at least 50 people injured and hospitalized. The quake flattened at least 157 houses and damaged nearly 200 more, displacing approximately 2,000 villagers who are now sheltering in temporary facilities. More than 100 public facilities, including schools, medical centers, and churches, were also destroyed. Fathur Rahman, head of the Search and Rescue Office in Maumere, indicated that some remote villages have been completely buried by landslides, complicating rescue efforts due to damaged infrastructure and a lack of heavy equipment.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Authorities have deployed three helicopters and a rescue vessel to support emergency response operations, including potential evacuations. The East Nusa Tenggara province, consisting of numerous islands, presents significant logistical challenges for rescuers. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka, described scenes of panic as people fled to higher ground when the quake struck, noting that buildings had been damaged and the port terminal waiting room had collapsed. At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students attending morning Mass ran from a collapsing roof, with at least one priest suffering a broken leg.

Regional Seismic Activity

A separate 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck North Sumatra province in western Indonesia on Saturday afternoon, though it occurred too deep underground to cause significant damage or casualties, according to Indonesian authorities. The Flores region experienced at least 235 aftershocks following the initial quake, with the largest registering a magnitude of 6.2. Indonesia is located within the “Ring of Fire,” making it highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Past disasters include a 1992 earthquake that killed approximately 2,500 people on Flores and a 2018 quake-triggered tsunami that claimed over 4,400 lives.

Rescue teams continue to search for survivors and assess the full extent of the damage across the affected region. The death toll is expected to rise as access improves to remote areas previously cut off by landslides.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.