Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 20 After Powerful 7.7 Quake

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — WEB DESK: At least 20 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, triggering landslides, damaging buildings and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate as dozens of aftershocks shook the region.

The earthquake struck at around 4:58 a.m. local time in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. Indonesia’s geophysics agency BMKG recorded the quake at a shallow depth of about 15 kilometres, according to Reuters.

Search and rescue operations were continuing on Saturday, with authorities warning that casualty figures could change as emergency teams reach communities affected by damaged roads, communications disruptions and power outages.

At least 20 killed, thousands evacuated

The Maumere Search and Rescue Office said at least 20 people had died, while six others were injured and two remained trapped, according to reports.

Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, was among the hardest-hit areas. Buildings collapsed in several locations, while landslides and damaged infrastructure complicated rescue operations.

Around 2,000 people were evacuated in Nagekeo, near the epicentre, as authorities reported damage to homes, warehouses and government facilities.

Some residents moved to higher ground immediately after the earthquake amid fears that a tsunami could strike coastal communities.

Tsunami warning lifted after three hours

Indonesia’s authorities initially issued a tsunami warning following the powerful offshore earthquake.

Tsunami waves of less than one metre were subsequently recorded, and the warning was lifted approximately three hours after the earthquake.

Australian authorities also said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.

Indonesia’s BMKG said the earthquake was linked to the Flores back-arc thrust fault, a major seismic structure capable of producing powerful earthquakes.

Aftershocks continued following the initial tremor, keeping residents and emergency authorities on alert.

Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes because of its position along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates interact.

Magnitude-5 earthquake strikes southern Spain

Separately, a magnitude-5 earthquake struck the southern Spanish province of Granada early Saturday, damaging buildings and vehicles but causing no reported injuries.

The earthquake struck the metropolitan area around Alhendín shortly after 1 a.m. local time, according to Spanish authorities.

The tremor was felt across several parts of Andalusia, prompting some residents to leave their homes and gather in the streets.

Regional authorities activated emergency procedures following reports of material damage. Buildings were being inspected as officials assessed the impact of the quake.

No deaths or injuries had been reported from the Granada earthquake as of Saturday.

The two earthquakes occurred thousands of kilometres apart and there is no indication that the seismic events in Indonesia and Spain were connected.