Jakarta: An earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude struck off the east coast of Indonesia early Saturday morning, resulting in at least five fatalities and numerous aftershocks. Authorities detected tsunami waves less than a meter high in several areas and lifted the tsunami warning about three hours following the earthquake.
According to Thai News Agency, Emanuel Melguides Laga Lena, the governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, reported that the five victims were crushed under collapsed buildings while asleep. The National Disaster Relief Agency initially reported one death and four injuries.
A video clip shared on Facebook illustrates the chaotic scene at the port of Maumere, the main city of Sikka district on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia. Part of a building collapsed, releasing dust as panicked residents fled into the streets. A resident from Talibura village in East Nusa Tenggara province recounted the strong tremors that forced him and his family to evacuate their home.
The National Disaster Relief Agency indicated that tremors were felt for about a minute in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi provinces, prompting widespread panic and evacuation from buildings.
Kompas TV covered the evacuation of patients from a hospital in Ende district, East Nusa Tenggara province, while Kompas.com reported at least one landslide occurrence. The Indonesian Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake at 4:58 AM local time at a depth of 15 kilometers, followed by several aftershocks.
The National Disaster Relief Agency also noted that around 2,000 people from the Nagakeo district have been evacuated due to damage to homes, warehouses, and government buildings. Traffic congestion and power outages have been reported in some areas.
Australia's tsunami warning center confirmed that the underwater earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat to the Australian mainland and islands.