MAUMERE (INDONESIA), AUG 15 (AP): A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 40 people, collapsing buildings and injuring dozens in a region prone to deadly quakes.
Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground.
The warning was later lifted after Indonesia’s meteorological agency reported no significant sea-level changes posing a threat to coastal communities.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck the Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) at 5:58 am local time. Its epicentre was 68 km (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.
The quake triggered landslides and small tsunami waves. The meteorological agency said 235 aftershocks were recorded by Saturday afternoon, with the strongest measuring magnitude 6.2.
Sea-level monitoring stations recorded tsunami waves up to 1.61 metres (5.3 feet) in coastal areas of Manggarai and East Manggarai regencies. Waves measuring 0.94 metres (3.1 feet) were also recorded in Maurole, Ende Regency.
AP videos showed Ngada village in East Manggarai covered in mud and debris after a 1.61-metre tsunami. Fishing boats were stranded ashore, while homes and infrastructure were damaged.
Tsunami waves exceeding 0.5 metres (1.6 feet) were also detected in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, and Sape in Bima Regency.