Death toll climbs to around 40 following magnitude 7.7 earthquake in eastern Indonesia

The confirmed death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia has risen to around 40 people, according to national and regional disaster management agencies.

Initial assessments from local search and rescue personnel had placed the number of fatalities at 20. However, emergency services revised the count upward to between 38 and 40 as response teams reached harder-hit districts. The undersea tremor caused severe structural destruction, collapsing residences, warehouses, and schools, while secondary landslides obstructed key roadways and complicated access for emergency responders.

Authorities had briefly declared a tsunami alert and evacuated coastal communities before withdrawing the warning. Rescue workers continue to clear debris and search for trapped survivors amid persistent aftershocks.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, Expresso das Ilhas, La Vanguardia