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Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's coast, killing at least 38
npr.org • • general
Key Points:
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores region early Saturday, killing at least 38 people and causing widespread building collapses and injuries, mainly in East Nusa Tenggara province.
- Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning but later lifted it after monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes; rescue operations are ongoing with helicopters and vessels deployed despite challenging geography.
- The quake caused severe damage, power outages, landslides that blocked major roads, and panic among residents, including evacuations of hospitals and temporary shelters for about 2,000 villagers.
- The earthquake was felt across Flores island and neighboring areas, with reports of collapsed buildings, injuries, and disruptions to communication and transportation infrastructure.
- Indonesia is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to frequent and sometimes deadly earthquakes and tsunamis, with a history of major seismic disasters causing significant loss of life.
