Rescuers search for survivors of powerful Indonesia earthquake

What the report says

Rescue crews in Indonesia were searching for survivors after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the island of Flores shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, according to the country’s meteorology and geophysics agency. The quake was shallow, with a reported depth of 15 km, and officials said the mountainous terrain was slowing efforts to assess the damage.

The National Disaster Management Agency said at least 47 people had been killed and that hundreds of buildings were damaged, including homes, schools, health facilities, places of worship and public offices. Early reports also indicated more than 5,000 people were staying in evacuation shelters, with aid supplies being sent to affected areas. Officials said the worst-hit areas included several provinces in East Nusa Tenggara, with deaths recorded in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, Ngada, Ende and West Manggarai.

The agency said there had been 341 aftershocks, while a tsunami warning issued after the initial jolt was later lifted when no significant rise in sea level was detected. Landslides blocked access to some villages, and temporary medical tents were set up to treat the injured. The event is another reminder of Indonesia’s exposure to major seismic activity because it sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”