Jakarta: At least 38 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, August 15, causing buildings to collapse, triggering landslides and sending thousands of residents fleeing to safer areas. Rescue teams are continuing to search damaged communities as aftershocks and disrupted communications complicate the emergency response.
The earthquake struck the Flores region of East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's most seismically active areas. The strong shaking was felt across several provinces, while damage was reported in homes, public buildings and other infrastructure.
Powerful earthquake strikes Flores
The main earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 and struck offshore near Flores. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was around 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara. The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth, increasing the intensity of shaking experienced on land.
The main tremor was followed by multiple aftershocks, further frightening residents and making it difficult for emergency crews to safely enter damaged structures.
In several communities, people rushed out of their homes and gathered in open areas amid fears that additional buildings could collapse.
Buildings collapse and landslides hit communities
The earthquake caused significant structural damage across parts of Flores. Buildings and houses were damaged or destroyed, while landslides blocked roads and isolated some communities.
The Trans-Flores highway, an important route running across the island, was reportedly cut off in parts because of earthquake-triggered landslides. Communication and electricity disruptions also hampered authorities' efforts to assess the full scale of the disaster.
In Maumere, parts of a port terminal collapsed. At a seminary in Sikka, students and religious staff fled after part of a building collapsed during morning Mass. A priest was reportedly injured while trying to escape.
Thousands flee as tsunami warning is issued
The undersea earthquake initially raised fears of a tsunami.
Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning for parts of several provinces and urged people living near the coast to move away from beaches and riverbanks and seek higher ground.
The warning was later lifted after authorities determined that there was no significant sea-level change posing a continuing tsunami threat. Small tsunami waves of less than one metre were nevertheless recorded in some areas.
The cancellation of the warning allowed some emergency operations to shift their focus towards search-and-rescue and damage assessment.
Rescue operations continue
Emergency workers are searching through collapsed buildings and landslide debris for survivors.
Authorities have reported deaths across several affected areas, including Sikka, West Manggarai and East Manggarai. Some victims were killed when buildings collapsed, while others died in landslides.
Around 2,000 residents evacuated from Nagekeo, according to disaster authorities. However, reaching some areas has been difficult because landslides have blocked roads and communication networks have been disrupted.
Officials have warned that the death toll could change as rescue teams reach more remote communities and complete assessments of damaged areas.
Aftershocks add to fears
Multiple aftershocks followed the main earthquake, keeping residents on edge.
After a major earthquake, weakened buildings can become especially dangerous because additional shaking can cause already damaged structures to collapse. This has forced rescuers to work carefully while residents remain reluctant to return indoors.
Hospitals and other facilities have also taken precautionary measures. In some locations, patients were moved outdoors because of concerns about further structural damage.
Why Indonesia is so vulnerable to earthquakes
Indonesia is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an extensive zone of tectonic activity surrounding much of the Pacific Ocean.
Several major tectonic plates meet around the Indonesian archipelago, producing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Flores and surrounding parts of eastern Indonesia have experienced destructive earthquakes in the past.
The region was also struck by a devastating magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused extensive destruction and a tsunami.
The latest disaster has once again highlighted the continuing seismic risks faced by communities across the Indonesian archipelago.
A race against time
With dozens confirmed dead, buildings damaged and roads blocked by landslides, Indonesian authorities face a difficult rescue operation.
The immediate priorities are locating people trapped beneath rubble, treating the injured, restoring communications and electricity, and providing shelter for residents who cannot safely return home.
Authorities are also continuing to monitor aftershocks and coastal conditions following the lifting of the tsunami warning.
For residents of Flores, the disaster has brought renewed fears of further destruction. For Indonesia's emergency services, the coming hours will be crucial as rescue teams reach isolated communities and determine the full extent of the damage.
The death toll of at least 38 represents the confirmed casualties reported so far, but officials continue to assess affected areas, meaning the figure could change as search-and-rescue operations continue.
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