The death toll from the powerful offshore earthquake in Indonesia has risen to at least 20, with 6 injured, while authorities are urgently searching for at least two victims trapped under rubble.
The severe earthquake situation in Indonesia remains concerning, as confirmed deaths have climbed to at least 20 and injuries total 6. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors who may be trapped under collapsed buildings, with reports indicating at least two people remain buried and possibly alive.
Fathur Rahman, a rescue official, told AFP that all fatalities were found in four towns on Flores Island. Meanwhile, rescue teams are heading to the Nagekeo district, one of the hardest-hit areas, to speed up search and rescue efforts for those trapped under debris.
The rescue mission is difficult due to multiple landslides that have cut off roads. Officials are urgently seeking ways to access the disaster area amid concerns that more victims may still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
At the same time, footage from the affected area clearly shows the panic among residents. People in Nagekeo district, close to the earthquake’s epicenter, fled to higher ground after noticing a rapid drop in sea levels, a possible warning sign of a tsunami.
Large numbers of people evacuated the town on foot, motorcycles, cars, and some even riding in the backs of pickup trucks, amid fears of a looming giant wave.
Earlier, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning following the magnitude 7.7 quake and ordered coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground. However, the warning was later lifted after no dangerous sea level changes were detected.
Officials have warned the public not to return to damaged buildings yet, as dozens of aftershocks have followed, the strongest measuring 6.1. Continuous monitoring of sea levels remains in place.
This earthquake occurred offshore to the north of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday morning. It registered a magnitude of 7.7 and was shallow, causing strong shaking across many areas on the island.
Flores Island and surrounding areas frequently experience earthquakes because Indonesia lies along the Ring of Fire, a highly active tectonic boundary with significant plate movement.
This event has caused particular alarm because Flores Island previously suffered a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in 1992 that triggered a tsunami killing around 2,500 people. In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra Island caused a massive tsunami that claimed about 220,000 lives across the region, including approximately 170,000 in Indonesia.
. Source:channelnewsasia
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