47 Killed After Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Indonesia

At least 47 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia, triggering landslides, damaging buildings and cutting communications in several areas, authorities said.

The earthquake struck early Saturday near East Nusa Tenggara province and was followed by dozens of aftershocks. Rescue operations have been hampered by landslides that blocked roads and disrupted mobile communications, particularly in Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicentre.

Authorities said around 2,000 people in Nagekeo were evacuated as homes, warehouses and government buildings were damaged. Power outages and heavy traffic were also reported.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said at least five people were killed when buildings collapsed while residents were sleeping.

In the port town of Maumere, rescuers recovered 20 bodies and found six injured people, while two others remained trapped beneath rubble, according to local rescue officials. Search teams were also working to locate survivors beneath a partially collapsed building at the port.

Video verified by Reuters showed sections of a building collapsing into rubble as frightened residents screamed and fled into the streets.

Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village, said the shaking was intense.

"The quake was massive, the shock was so strong," she said, recalling how 13 people inside her home rushed outside to escape.

Residents in several parts of East Nusa Tenggara reported violent shaking that lasted for about a minute. Tremors were also felt in West Nusa Tenggara and parts of South Sulawesi.

In Maumere, Siti Sulfia Bira, 37, said she immediately moved to higher ground after the earthquake struck.

She said her family had not yet returned home because they remained concerned that further aftershocks could cause additional damage.

A tsunami warning was issued following the undersea earthquake, with waves of less than one metre recorded in several locations. The warning was lifted about three hours later.

Indonesia's geophysics agency BMKG said the initial earthquake occurred at 4:58 a.m. local time at a depth of about 15 kilometres. Several aftershocks were subsequently recorded.

The agency said the region had previously experienced a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 1992, which caused widespread destruction.

Preliminary disaster agency figures showed that 157 homes had been severely damaged, while another 41 sustained moderate damage and 148 suffered light damage.

Authorities also reported damage to 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship and six government offices, along with other infrastructure.

A hospital in Ende moved patients outside as a precaution, while reports also emerged of landslides in the region.

The Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to Australia's mainland, islands or territories.

Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a highly active seismic zone where several tectonic plates meet. The region experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The latest disaster comes after a series of major earthquakes and tsunamis that have caused heavy loss of life in Indonesia. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Palu on Sulawesi island, killing more than 4,000 people.

With rescue teams still unable to reach some of the hardest-hit areas, authorities warned that the death toll could rise as search and recovery operations continue.