Strong earthquake prompts evacuations and tsunami warning in eastern Indonesia
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia, leading to mass evacuations and a tsunami warning that was later lifted. Residents in Nagekeo regency, near the epicenter, fled to higher ground as the sea receded. The shallow quake, located about 68 kilometers northwest of Ende, was followed by strong aftershocks, including one of 6.1 magnitude. Lukas Lotar, a 31-year-old hospital customer service official in Maumere, described panic and cracked walls, while 56-year-old Yohanes Babo in Nagekeo reported people running in fear but confirmed his family was safe. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency urged self-evacuation for communities along the northern coast of Flores and southern regions, advising people to move more than two kilometers inland or to hills over 10 meters high. Tsunami modeling suggested potential waves in East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara, with an alert for waves between 0.5 and three meters, which was subsequently lifted. Authorities have not reported any casualties, though tsunami waves of 19 to 30 centimeters were detected. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location in the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
