In the early hours of Saturday, Indonesia was struck by a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake off its coast, causing damage to homes and buildings and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. Residents in vulnerable coastal areas were advised to evacuate to higher ground.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 am (local time). The epicenter was 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, news agency AP reported.
Despite the initial earthquake being followed by several aftershocks, there were no immediate reports of casualties. Tremors were felt across much of Flores Island, with initial reports indicating damage to homes and public facilities. However, officials have not yet released estimates of the extent of the damage or reported any casualties.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
