Powerful quake hits Indonesia, Death toll rises to 20

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Jakarta: A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake slammed off Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, killing at least 20 people, according to a Maumere search-and-rescue official quoted by AFP. Six persons were injured, and two more were reported to be trapped beneath rubble while rescue workers attempted to reach the impacted locations.

The shallow earthquake struck around 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicentre approximately 68 kilometres northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The severe shaking destroyed homes and other structures, and many fled to safer regions for fear of future collapses and aftershocks.

Authorities first issued a tsunami warning, leading thousands of coastal residents to evacuate toward higher ground. The warning was later cancelled as monitoring revealed no significant tsunami threat, but waves of less than one metre were recorded in some regions.

Rescue and assessment operations are still underway, with authorities warning locals to avoid damaged structures as several aftershocks continue to impact the area. Indonesia is located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, making it particularly susceptible to severe earthquakes and tsunamis.