Rescue teams have launched search-and-rescue operations in Indonesia’s Flores Island after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least 38 people and injured 13 others.
The earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara early Saturday, causing extensive damage to homes and public buildings and trapping several people beneath collapsed structures.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said rescue teams were prioritising buildings where survivors were believed to be trapped.
Agency chief Suharyanto said two helicopters and an aircraft were being prepared to support the emergency response.
“Victims are trapped in several buildings. These will be the initial targets of the disaster response teams,” he told reporters at a news conference.
Authorities said about 2,000 residents had evacuated affected communities, while hundreds of others remained outdoors as strong aftershocks continued to hit the island. The strongest aftershock recorded so far measured 6.1.
Rescue official Fathur Rahman said landslides had blocked several roads, making it difficult for emergency teams to reach some affected areas.
Residents near the epicentre described scenes of panic as the earthquake struck. Yulian Juita Ekalia, a 37-year-old university lecturer in Ruteng, said the tremor woke her at about 5:30 a.m.
“It felt like we were on a trampoline; it was really scary,” she said, adding that household items fell as she rushed outside with other residents.
In Nagekeo, residents fled towards higher ground after noticing the sea pulling back, prompting fears of a possible tsunami. Although the tsunami warning was later lifted, authorities urged residents to stay away from damaged buildings because continuing tremors could trigger further collapses.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered support through the European Union’s Copernicus satellite system to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
Indonesia is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region known for frequent and powerful seismic activity.
Flores Island was previously struck by a major earthquake in 1992, which triggered a tsunami and killed about 2,500 people.
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