7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Indonesia Sparks Tsunami Fear

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake Indonesia struck near Flores Island early Saturday morning, killing at least two people and forcing thousands of residents to flee toward higher ground.

Disaster agency spokesman Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan confirmed the deaths in Jakarta. He said one man and one woman lost their lives in the disaster.

“At this point there are two reported fatalities,” Panjaitan told reporters. He added that officials are still confirming the full extent of damage and casualties.

The quake hit at 4:58 a.m. local time, roughly 68 kilometers northwest of Ende, a coastal town on Flores Island. It struck at a shallow depth of about 15 kilometers, which often makes tremors feel stronger on the surface.

Several aftershocks followed the main quake, including one that measured 6.1 in magnitude. Residents across the region felt the ground shake for nearly a full minute.

In Nagekeo regency, the closest area to the epicenter, people rushed toward the hills after noticing the sea pulling back. This is often a warning sign that a tsunami could be approaching.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning shortly after the quake. It was later lifted once experts confirmed the danger had passed. Some coastal areas still recorded small waves under one meter high.

Yohanes Babo, a 56-year-old resident of Nagekeo, described the panic that followed. “The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house,” he said.

He explained that people ran in different directions as fear spread through the community. “We’re evacuating for the time being… and trying to get to the hills,” Babo said. He confirmed his family was safe.

The tremor was also felt strongly in Bima and other nearby areas, according to Dodi Yuleova, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s national disaster agency.

In Maumere, a town in Sikka Regency, residents ran into the streets as buildings shook violently around them.

Lukas Lotar, a 31-year-old hospital worker in Maumere, described the frightening moments. “Suddenly it started to shake, and I panicked,” he said.

He added that patients also fled the hospital due to the intensity of the shaking. “The jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked,” Lotar said.

Television footage from Kompas TV showed hospital staff in Ende moving patients outdoors as a safety measure following the quake.

A video verified by Reuters, filmed at a port in Maumere, showed part of a building collapsing into dust as people screamed and ran for safety.

Australia’s tsunami warning center confirmed the undersea quake posed no threat to its mainland, islands, or territories.

Officials in Indonesia are continuing to assess damage across the affected regions. Residents remain alert as aftershocks continue to rattle the area.