Powerful earthquake hits Indonesia - at least five dead, a large number of buildings collapse
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck the area off the coast of the Indonesian island of Flores early Saturday, collapsing buildings and homes and killing at least five people.
Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning after the earthquake and urged residents of coastal areas to move to higher ground. The warning was later lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea level changes that would endanger coastal communities.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende, in East Nusa Tenggara province, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The earthquake was recorded at 05:58 local time, and several aftershocks were recorded after it.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said preliminary reports indicated two fatalities in the Sikka region and three in the Manggarai region, while material damage was extensive and several buildings had collapsed, Reuters reported.
"We are continuing to collect data on damage and casualties, but there are communication disruptions," Darmoko said.
Power outages in cities and villages have further slowed the flow of information and made search and rescue operations difficult.
Local television stations broadcast footage of the evacuation of patients from several hospitals, as medical personnel took out beds, IV drips and oxygen tanks, setting up temporary treatment points in open spaces.
The earthquake was felt across most of Flores, with initial reports of severe damage.
Sikka region resident Yohanna Embu said the powerful tremors damaged several buildings and caused panic among people, who fled to higher ground.
In Flores, the roof of the St. Peter Major Seminary also collapsed during morning mass. At least one priest broke his leg after jumping from the second floor.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire. /Telegraph/
