Indonesia Quake Off Flores Triggers Evacuations, Deaths

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores Island in eastern Indonesia at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, with its epicenter north-northwest of Ende and causing widespread damage, collapses, and panicked evacuations. Rescue efforts focused on districts including Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai, where buildings collapsed and landslides hindered access; about 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and communications were disrupted by power outages and road blockages. Dozens of aftershocks followed and a tsunami warning was issued, later lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea-level rise. Official tallies varied across outlets, but United States and Indonesian authorities reported at least 20 to 38 confirmed deaths, with dozens injured and several missing amid landslides and collapsed structures. Videos showed crumbling facades and people fleeing into the streets as the quake shook for up to a minute or more in some areas. The disaster underscores Indonesia’s vulnerability to quakes along the Pacific Ring of Fire and the challenges of rescue operations amid damaged infrastructure.