Rescue teams are searching through collapsed buildings and piles of debris on Indonesia’s Flores Island after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least 38 people and left others injured or trapped. The disaster struck early Saturday in eastern Indonesia, sending residents into panic and prompting emergency evacuations across affected communities.
The earthquake struck at about 5:58 a.m. local time near Flores, with the epicentre located offshore, north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The shallow and powerful tremor caused significant damage across parts of the island, including collapsed buildings, damaged homes, landslides and disruptions to roads and communications. Several aftershocks were also reported, adding to fears among residents and complicating emergency operations.
Indonesia’s disaster authorities said victims remained trapped in several buildings, making the immediate priority a search-and-rescue operation. Officials said 13 people had been injured, including two who were seriously hurt. Emergency personnel were being deployed to the worst-affected locations, while helicopters and an aircraft were being prepared to support rescue and relief efforts.
The scale of the destruction has made access difficult in some areas. Landslides have blocked roads, while damage to infrastructure and communications has slowed the movement of emergency teams. In some communities, residents have been forced to leave their homes, with around 2,000 people reported to have evacuated as authorities assessed the damage.
The earthquake also triggered a tsunami warning for parts of eastern Indonesia, prompting people in coastal communities to move towards safer ground. The warning was later lifted after authorities determined that there was no significant continuing tsunami threat. Reports indicated that tsunami waves of less than one metre were observed in some locations.
For families affected by the disaster, however, the immediate concern remains finding loved ones who may still be beneath the rubble. Rescue workers are carefully clearing damaged structures while searching for signs of life. Officials have warned that the casualty figures could change as teams reach areas that remain difficult to access and complete their assessments.
Flores and the surrounding Indonesian archipelago are located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, one of the world’s most active zones for earthquakes and volcanic activity. The region has experienced devastating seismic disasters before, including the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, which caused thousands of deaths.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are focusing on locating survivors, treating the injured and providing shelter for displaced residents. The coming hours will be critical as emergency workers race to reach people who may remain trapped while engineers assess buildings weakened by the powerful earthquake.