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At least 38 people have died after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region early Saturday'.
The earthquake struck shortly before 5 a.m. local time at a depth of about 15 kilometres, according to Indonesian authorities. Several strong aftershocks followed, including one measuring 6.1, complicating rescue efforts across East Nusa Tenggara.
A tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas but was lifted about three hours later after monitoring showed no significant rise in sea levels. Authorities said around 2,000 people evacuated or moved to temporary shelters following the warning.
Much of the damage was reported around Maumere and other parts of Flores. At the port in Maumere, sections of a terminal building collapsed, with some people reportedly falling into the sea after a gangway gave way. Rescuers also recovered victims from landslides, while roads were blocked in several areas.
Officials said communication problems caused by power outages were making it difficult to establish the full extent of the damage. Landslides also cut sections of the Trans-Flores highway, restricting access to some communities and slowing rescue operations.
Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook and people rushed outdoors. Yulian Juita Ekalia, a university lecturer living west of the epicentre, said the earthquake was unlike anything she had experienced before.
"I have never felt an earthquake this big," she said. "It felt like we were on a trampoline - it was really scary."
At several hospitals, patients were moved outside as a precaution, with medical staff setting up temporary treatment areas and relocating beds, oxygen equipment and other supplies.
Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka, also reported extensive damage in the area, saying, "Many buildings here were damaged ... I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed."
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity because it lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." The country has experienced several devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, including the 2004 earthquake off Sumatra that triggered a tsunami and killed hundreds of thousands of people across the region.
Rescue teams, helicopters and a vessel have been deployed to support emergency operations, while authorities continue assessing casualties and structural damage.
