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The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island has risen to at least 38, with rescuers continuing to search collapsed buildings and areas cut off by landslides.
Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said 38 people had been confirmed dead, while two were seriously injured and 11 sustained minor injuries. About 2,000 people have evacuated on their own, according to the latest official figures.
The shallow earthquake struck early Saturday off the northern coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province. Indonesia’s geophysics agency said the epicentre was about 30 kilometres northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo Regency, at a depth of around 15 kilometres.
Rescue teams were searching for people trapped beneath rubble, with operations hampered by landslides, damaged roads and communication problems. At least two people were reported to have been found alive beneath debris, while one person was recovered dead from a collapsed structure.
The earthquake caused widespread damage across parts of Flores and neighbouring areas, including collapsed or damaged buildings, landslides and power outages. The Trans-Flores highway was among the roads affected, making it difficult for emergency teams to reach some communities.
In the worst-hit areas, residents rushed to higher ground after noticing the sea retreating following the earthquake, raising fears of a tsunami.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning shortly after the quake and urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to evacuate. The warning was later lifted after monitoring showed that the tsunami threat had ended. Small waves were recorded at several locations, including a wave of 0.94 metres at Maurole in Ende and 0.36 metres at Labuan Bajo.
Authorities have warned residents not to return to damaged buildings because strong aftershocks could cause further collapses. Several aftershocks have already been recorded, including one measuring about 6.1 in magnitude.
Yohanes Babo, 56, a resident of Nagekeo, said he was at a market when the earthquake struck.
“The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house,” he told AFP. He said people panicked and fled towards the hills, adding that his family was safe.
In Maumere, a major town on Flores, residents also reported severe shaking. Lukas Lotar, a hospital customer service official, said patients fled the facility after walls were cracked by the quake.
The full extent of the damage remains under assessment, with authorities continuing rescue and relief operations in affected communities. More than 50 homes and several public facilities have reportedly suffered serious damage, while landslides have affected multiple areas.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity.
Flores suffered a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1992 that triggered a tsunami and killed around 2,500 people. In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggered the Indian Ocean tsunami, killing about 220,000 people across the region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.
In 2018, a series of powerful earthquakes on Lombok and neighbouring Sumbawa killed more than 550 people. Later that year, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Palu on Sulawesi, leaving more than 4,300 people dead or missing.
