A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, killing at least two people and triggering emergency warnings along nearby shorelines, authorities said. The quake set off widespread panic as residents rushed to evacuate, while officials urged coastal communities to move inland or to higher ground as a local tsunami threat was assessed.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 5:58am local time (21:58 GMT Friday). The epicentre was located about 68 kilometres (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende, in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, and the shaking originated at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres. These parameters, US and regional reporting indicated, helped drive fears of sea hazards despite the short time between the initial event and the warning.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning for affected coastlines, advising people to avoid beaches and riverbanks and relocate to safer elevations. In statements relayed by national and international media, authorities emphasised immediate public action, with evacuation guidance focusing on preventing exposure to potential waves.
Abdul Muhari, an official with the national disaster management agency BNPB, urged residents across multiple parts of Flores and surrounding southern areas to begin self-evacuation. “We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts, on the southern islands and across the southern region, to carry out self-evacuation immediately,” he said, reinforcing the urgency felt by communities already experiencing strong tremors. The warning language, reported by Al Jazeera, underscored that the threat was primarily aimed at the coastline rather than inland neighbourhoods.
Further details on evacuation measures were also broadcast locally. Residents were told to move away from the shore—either more than 2 kilometres inland or up into hilly terrain more than 10 metres high. In Maumere, on Flores, AFP reported that evacuations to higher ground were underway while damage assessment teams continued to survey areas in and around the quake’s impact zone. Panic-running residents and disrupted routines were visible in footage and on-scene accounts from the region.
As the event unfolded, additional seismic activity followed. USGS data cited by CNN indicated that three aftershocks—measuring 5.9, 5.6 and 6.1—occurred after the main shock. Such sequences can complicate rescue operations and evacuation efforts, increasing the likelihood of weakened structures collapsing further and making it harder for people to return safely to their homes.
Even as the first hours focused on public safety, officials also monitored whether tsunami waves were materialising. Channel News Asia reported that tsunami waves measuring between 19 and 30 centimetres were detected, prompting authorities to communicate both the immediate risk and the need for continued observation. At the same time, officials later indicated the situation had shifted from warning mode toward monitoring mode.
Reuters and other regional coverage described that a tsunami warning was eventually lifted, though authorities continued monitoring sea levels. In a statement relayed by Channel News Asia, Wijayanto, identified only by one name, said: “We have ended (the tsunami warning) but we will keep monitoring the sea level.” That approach reflected a typical emergency posture—scaling back public alerts while maintaining vigilance for any delayed wave impacts.
While the tsunami guidance captured headlines, the earthquake’s human toll was also being assessed. The Al Jazeera report said at least two people were killed, reflecting injuries and fatalities reported in the immediate aftermath. The same reporting described damaged houses in Ruteng, in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, where photographs showed structures harmed by the strong shaking.
International comparisons of the event’s early reports suggested that, at least initially, impacts were still being verified and compiled across different localities. The Guardian, citing USGS, noted that no immediate casualties or damage were reported in the earliest phase, highlighting how casualty totals can evolve as field assessments are completed. By the time Al Jazeera’s account was published, deaths had been confirmed, demonstrating how rapid seismic events can create a fluid information environment.
For residents of Flores and nearby islands, the quake’s timing—early morning—also added to disruption and vulnerability. People were forced to respond quickly without waiting for full damage assessments, and evacuation routes were tested by the sheer speed of the warning. In the aftermath, responders faced the dual challenge of protecting evacuating populations from coastline hazards while managing the risk of aftershocks.
Officials from Indonesia’s disaster agencies continued to call for continued safety measures in the hours following the quake, and the broader region remained alert to any new tremors or sea-level anomalies. The combination of a strong 7.7-magnitude shock, shallow depth, subsequent aftershocks and a temporary tsunami advisory illustrated the layered risks facing communities in an earthquake-prone archipelago.
As monitoring continued, attention turned to damage evaluation, restoration of essential services and confirmation of the full extent of casualties. With the tsunami threat downgraded to ongoing observation and the aftershock sequence underway, authorities and residents were left to navigate the transition from emergency evacuation to recovery planning across East Nusa Tenggara and the wider Flores region.
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