Indonesia earthquake: 7.7-magnitude quake strikes off Flores, at least 2 dead

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday, 15 August, collapsing buildings and homes, killing at least two people and triggering panic in a region prone to deadly quakes.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning following the quake but later lifted it after Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that posed a threat to coastal communities. The agency located the shallow undersea quake near Flores island.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck the Flores region at a depth of 10 km at 5.58 am local time. Its epicentre was 68 km north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks followed the initial quake.

Preliminary reports from the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency said at least two residents were killed and two others injured after the earthquake caused severe damage and brought down buildings, according to Indonesia's disaster management agency.

Footage on local television showed patients being evacuated from several hospitals as a precaution. Hospital staff moved equipment, including beds, IV stands and oxygen cylinders, outdoors and set up temporary treatment areas to cope with the emergency.

The quake was felt across much of Flores island, with initial reports indicating heavy damage.

Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka regency in East Nusa Tenggara province, said several buildings were damaged by the strong shaking and panicked residents ran to higher ground. "Many buildings here were damaged ... I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed," she said.

Students at St Peter Major Seminary in Sikka fled in panic while attending morning mass after the roof of an assembly hall collapsed, said Rev Guidelbertus Tanga, rector of the seminary, known locally as Ritapiret Seminary on the predominantly Catholic island of Flores.

"Our students and nuns ran out in panic beneath a collapsing roof," Tanga said. "At least one priest suffered a broken leg after jumping from the second floor of a building during the quake."

Indonesian authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces. Residents were urged to stay away from beaches and riverbanks, while those along the coastline were told to move to higher ground.

With AP/PTI inputs