Magnitude 7.7 quake strikes off Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early yesterday, killing at least 38 people, and collapsing buildings and homes.

Authorities said that more than a dozen residents were injured.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but later lifted the warning when the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that would pose a threat to coastal communities.

People look at a crack in a road following an earthquake in Mbay, Indonesia, yesterday.

Photo: EPA

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10km at 5:58am. Its epicenter was 68km north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara Province.

The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks.

Suharyanto, the head of the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, said rescuers had recovered at least 38 bodies, mostly in the three devastated regencies of Sikka, Manggarai and East Manggarai, including 16 bodies that were pulled from a landslide in the village of Reok in Manggarai.

At least 13 people were rushed to nearby hospitals, including two with serious injuries.

Suharyanto, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said three helicopters and a rescue vessel were deployed to assist with logistics and support emergency response operations, including possible evacuations if needed, given East Nusa Tenggara’s geography, which consists of numerous islands and presents significant transportation and access challenges.

About 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency fled their homes to temporary shelters, he said.

East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said the earthquake caused severe damage.

Power outages hampered the flow of information, and complicated rescue efforts, he said.

“We are continuing to collect reports of damage and casualties, but there are communication disruptions,” Darmoko said.