Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, leaving dozens dead

A powerful magnitude 7.7 undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, causing widespread destruction and significant casualties. Disaster management agencies and local rescue teams reported death tolls ranging between 20 and 40 as emergency crews reached heavily affected communities.

The tremor caused extensive structural damage across the region, flattening homes, schools, and warehouses, while secondary landslides obstructed key roadways and hindered relief efforts. Indonesian authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning, prompting mass evacuations in coastal areas before lifting the alert. Search and rescue operations remain underway to locate trapped survivors amid persistent aftershocks.

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