Five Confirmed Dead as Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Near Indonesia’s Coast

Major Quake Hits Indonesia

According to УНІАН — Туризм: On August 15, a powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck near the eastern coast of Indonesia, killing five people. The initial tremor was recorded at 04:58 local time, with its epicenter located about 15 kilometers underground. Dozens of aftershocks followed the main event, and tsunami waves of less than one meter were measured in several parts of the country. All five victims died while sleeping, crushed beneath the debris of collapsed buildings.

Effects on People and Infrastructure

The quake hit close to Flores Island, and in the Ende area, hospital patients were moved outside. Around 2,000 people were evacuated, and at least one landslide was reported. Homes, warehouses, and government offices were damaged, and some areas lost electricity. In certain locations, the ground motion lasted for roughly one minute. A Talibura village resident described the scene:

“The tremors were so strong that 13 people in the house immediately rushed to escape.”

This earthquake comes several days after a magnitude-7.4 temblor struck Colombia, killing over 130 people and leaving nearly 240 missing. That earlier disaster also caused around 25 buildings to collapse in one city, and shaking in Bogotá lasted for almost two minutes. Indonesia, situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, often experiences earthquakes due to intense tectonic activity. The latest tragedy underlines the urgent need for local emergency preparedness and for strong recovery efforts to support affected communities. It also serves as another reminder that earthquakes pose a worldwide challenge, as the Colombian event demonstrated.