Key facts
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island.
- At least 47 people have died.
- Over 2,000 people have been displaced.
- Landslides and damaged infrastructure, including five airports, are hindering rescue efforts.
- A tsunami warning was issued and subsequently lifted.
- The EU offered satellite mapping services to aid rescue efforts.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island on Saturday morning, killing at least 47 people and displacing over 2,000 residents. Landslides have blocked roads and severely damaged public infrastructure, including five airports, hampering rescue efforts. Widespread damage to homes was also reported across several areas.
The earthquake's epicenter was at sea, approximately 700 kilometers east of Bali. Strong tremors were felt hundreds of kilometers away in South and Southeast Sulawesi provinces. Electricity and communications were disrupted, with authorities prioritizing their restoration using Starlink satellite internet services.
Following the quake, which occurred just before 6 a.m. local time, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning. Waves of less than a meter were reported in several areas before the warning was lifted after about two and a half hours. The agency recorded 235 aftershocks, including four with magnitudes above 5.0, and expected them to continue for two weeks.
Rescuers in the port town of Maumere found 20 people dead, six injured, and two trapped under rubble. Efforts to reach some remote areas closest to the epicenter were ongoing. Videos shared on social media appeared to show damage at Laurentius Say Port in Maumere.
BMKG official Nelly Florida Riama stated the earthquake was caused by back-arc thrust activity in the Flores Sea. The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources noted that reports of water rising from the ground could indicate liquefaction, though this has not been confirmed. The agency also dismissed suggestions that the earthquake could trigger volcanic activity on Flores Island, which has 15 volcanoes.