Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's coast, killing at least 47 and toppling buildings
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores region early Saturday, with the U.S. Geological Survey placing the epicenter north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province and the depth at 10 kilometers.
- At least 47 people were killed and dozens more were injured, while authorities said the death toll was likely to rise.
- The quake toppled buildings and triggered panic in a region that is prone to deadly earthquakes.
- Officials issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but later lifted the warning after monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes.
- Indonesia's meteorological agency said the quake was followed by at least 235 aftershocks, including one measured at magnitude 6.2, and that small tsunamis were reported in some coastal villages.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's eastern coast early Saturday, hitting the Flores region and shaking parts of East Nusa Tenggara province. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, with the epicenter about 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende.
Authorities said at least 47 people were killed and dozens more were injured. Officials warned that the toll would almost certainly rise as damage assessments continued in the affected area.
The quake toppled buildings and prompted a tsunami warning, which led coastal residents to move to higher ground. The warning was later lifted after monitoring did not show significant sea-level changes posing a threat to coastal communities, though small tsunamis were reported in some villages.
Indonesia's meteorological agency said the quake was followed by at least 235 aftershocks, including one magnitude 6.2 tremor. The region has a long history of deadly seismic activity, and the initial shock caused panic across the area.
印尼海域发生7.7级地震，至少47人死亡，多栋建筑倒塌
周六凌晨，印尼东部海域发生强烈的7.7级地震，震中位于弗洛勒斯地区，波及东努沙登加拉省部分地区。美国地质调查局称，这次地震震源深度为10公里，震中在恩德市西北偏北约68公里处。
官方表示，地震已造成至少47人死亡，数十人受伤。随着受灾地区的损失评估继续推进，当局警告死亡人数很可能还会增加。
这次地震导致多栋建筑倒塌，并一度触发海啸警报，沿海居民被要求前往高地。后来，在监测未显示足以威胁沿海社区的明显海平面变化后，海啸警报被解除，不过部分村庄仍记录到小规模海啸。
印尼气象机构说，地震后至少又发生了235次余震，其中最大一次达到6.2级。该地区长期以来地震活动频繁，这次主震在当地引发了广泛恐慌。