A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores island, killing two people and injuring one. Authorities have issued a tsunami warning after the quake.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at 5:58 a.m. local time on Saturday. Its epicenter was about 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. It was 10 kilometers deep.
Three aftershocks were felt within half an hour of the first earthquake, measuring 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1, respectively.
In a press statement, Indonesia’s national disaster agency BNPB said two people, including a man and a woman, were killed and another injured at the port of Maumere.
Local media footage after the earthquake showed extensive damage to buildings, including the port, and areas around the Maumere region were severely damaged.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a tsunami warning for affected coastal areas, urging residents to move away from beaches and riverbanks to higher ground.
