Europe Asia News

The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake off Indonesia’s Flores Island has risen to 40. Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency said on Saturday that 50 people were also injured.

Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, announced that around 2,000 people had been taken to nearby evacuation shelters for safety.

Footage from the city of Maumere showed patients being treated on makeshift beds and in tents set up outside the hospital because of the earthquake. Emergency response teams were also reported to be carrying out cleanup work in the damaged waiting area at Laurentius Say Port.

The China Earthquake Networks Center said the earthquake occurred at 05:58 local time at a depth of 20 kilometers. The tremor was felt in many settlements across Flores Island, prompting large numbers of people to rush into the streets in panic.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said numerous aftershocks of magnitude 5 or above were recorded following the main earthquake. One of the aftershocks was reported to have a magnitude of 6.2.

A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake but was later lifted.

The Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar also announced that three Chinese tourists evacuated after the earthquake sustained minor injuries. One tourist hit their head against a wall, while the other two suffered minor injuries to the lower back. All three tourists were reported to be in stable condition.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent.