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Powerful earthquake kills dozens in Indonesia
BBC··16 Aug
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region early Saturday, killing at least 47 people and damaging hundreds of buildings, the national disaster agency said. A tsunami warning was issued and later lifted after no significant sea-level rise was detected. Hours later, a separate 6.5-magnitude quake was recorded elsewhere in Indonesia with no reported casualties.
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What It Means For You
- If you have family or business ties in eastern Indonesia, more than 2,000 people have evacuated the Flores region and communication may be disrupted.
- Travellers to Bali or nearby islands should note the epicentre was about 600 miles away, though aftershocks continue in the affected zone.
- The tsunami warning and its lifting show how quickly regional alert systems respond, though residents were told to stay away from coastlines regardless.
What's Happening
- The 7.7-magnitude quake struck near Flores at a shallow depth of 15 km shortly before 5am local time on Saturday.
- Indonesia's disaster agency recorded 24 deaths in Manggarai province alone, with more than 150 houses severely damaged across the region.
- A second, unrelated 6.5-magnitude quake was recorded later at a depth of 165 km, with no immediate reports of damage or injury.
Why Indonesia Faces Frequent Quakes
- Indonesia sits at the meeting point of three major tectonic plates, making it one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations.
- Shallow earthquakes like Saturday's 15 km-deep Flores quake tend to cause more surface destruction than deeper tremors of similar magnitude.
- Aid and rescue teams face access difficulties because the affected Nusa Tenggara region is remote and mountainous, slowing damage assessments.
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