A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, killing at least 38 people and triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Rescue Efforts Underway
Rescue official Fathur Rahman told AFP that the confirmed dead are from four different towns on the island. He said: "Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble," adding that the rescue effort had been complicated by landslides cutting off roads.
The country's Weather, Climate, and Earthquake Information office (BMKG) issued an early tsunami warning following the quake, which has now been lifted.
Damage and Casualties
Local resident Yohanna Embu from Sikka said a number of buildings were damaged by the strong shaking and panicked people ran to higher ground. She said: "Many buildings here were damaged ... I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed."
Rahman reported: "From the reports we have received, 20 people have died, six are injured, and two are still buried. Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble." The nation's disaster mitigation agency has since said the death toll has risen as search and rescue teams probe rubble.
Governor Confirms Deaths in Sleep
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a news conference people were killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble. Video taken at the port in Maumere showed large chunks of concrete breaking off the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. Some were thrown into the sea when the gangway to a ship collapsed.
Officials have said the death toll is expected to climb as emergency teams work through the aftermath.
