At least two killed as magnitude 7.7 quake hits Indonesia

What the report says

Indonesia’s Flores Island was hit early Saturday by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that killed at least two people and triggered a tsunami warning, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Indonesian authorities and the USGS. The quake struck offshore near Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province at a shallow depth, and was followed by several strong aftershocks within about 30 minutes.

The national disaster agency, BNPB, said the deaths occurred at the L Say Maumere port, where another person was injured. Reports and footage from the area showed damaged buildings, including at the port, with some of the heaviest impact around the Maumere region. Authorities said they were still assessing damage and monitoring the possibility of further aftershocks.

Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency issued a tsunami warning for affected coastlines and told residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and move to higher ground. An official also urged coastal communities in northern Flores and surrounding islands to evacuate immediately, including by moving inland or to elevated areas. Australia’s tsunami warning centre said there was no threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.

The quake matters because Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and has a long history of destructive earthquakes and tsunamis. Al Jazeera noted that the same broader coastline was hit by a deadly quake and tsunami in 1992.