Top News

Aunt. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, causing the collapse of many buildings and houses and killing at least 38 people. Authorities had issued a tsunami warning but later withdrew it. Officials said more than a dozen people were injured.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks were also felt after the initial earthquake. BKMG had issued a tsunami warning after the earthquake, although it was later withdrawn. Local media reported that strong tremors were felt in many areas, causing many panicked people to run into the streets for safety.

The head of the National Disaster Management Agency said rescue workers had recovered at least 38 bodies. Most of these bodies were found in the three worst-affected areas of Sikka, Manggarai and East Manggarai, including 16 bodies pulled out of a landslide in Reok village of Manggarai. At least 13 people were taken to nearby hospitals, including two with serious injuries.

Three helicopters and a rescue ship have been deployed to help with logistics and emergency relief operations. This also includes evacuating people if needed, as East Nusa Tenggara's geography is such that there are many islands and major challenges of transportation and access. He said that about 2,000 villagers of Nagekeo area have left their homes and gone to temporary shelters.

East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudy Darmoko said the earthquake caused extensive damage and many buildings collapsed. He said that power outages in cities and villages are hampering the availability of information and creating difficulties in search and rescue operations.

“We are gathering reports of damage and casualties, but there are interruptions in communications,” Darmoko said. He said landslides in the Ende area caused by the earthquake also closed the Trans-Flores Highway, a roughly 700-kilometer (435-mile) paved mountain road that stretches from Labuan Bajo to Larantuca on Flores island. Footage shown on local television showed the earthquake as a precaution. Patients were shown being evacuated from several hospital buildings, with hospital staff taking out equipment such as beds, IV stands and oxygen cylinders and setting up temporary treatment sites to deal with emergency situations.