Rescuers search for survivors of powerful Indonesia earthquake

Rescue teams continue to search for survivors after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores early Saturday morning, shortly before 05:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Friday), according to Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics bureau. The quake had a depth of 15 kilometers. Preliminary reports indicate that hundreds of buildings were severely damaged by the main shock and the dozens of aftershocks that followed. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, and the occurrence of a second earthquake measuring magnitude 6.9 at another extremity of Indonesia served as a reminder of why this region is referred to as the “ring of fire.” Tremors from the initial quake were felt as far west as Bima Regency and City, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said, though Manggarai state appears to be among the hardest‑hit areas. According to preliminary information, 24 fatalities have been recorded in Manggarai, 17 deaths in East Manggarai province, three in Sikka province, and at least one each in Ngada, Ende and West Manggarai provinces. At least two people suffered serious injuries and eleven sustained minor injuries. The BNPB reported that relief efforts are underway, with 10,500 aid packages having arrived at the base operations so far. Officials warned that it will take time to assess the full extent of the destruction in the remote, mountainous region.