At least 47 people were killed after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck near Indonesia’s Flores Island, damaging hundreds of buildings, triggering landslides and prompting thousands of residents to move away from coastal areas.
The shallow undersea quake struck shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, with its epicenter about 42 miles north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Authorities issued a tsunami warning for several provinces before lifting it around three hours later after no significant rise in sea levels was detected.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said the death toll continued to rise as search and rescue operations expanded across affected communities.
Rescue teams had yet to reach Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicenter, after landslides blocked roads and disrupted communications.
In Maumere, rescuers reported deaths, injuries and people trapped beneath rubble, while video from the port showed concrete falling from the terminal building and passengers being thrown into the sea after a gangway collapsed.
Authorities said residents remained trapped in several buildings across earthquake-hit areas.
About 2,000 people evacuated or relocated independently, while many residents remained outdoors because of continuing aftershocks.
Preliminary assessments showed 157 homes were heavily damaged, 41 moderately damaged and 148 lightly damaged.
Damage was also reported at 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, six office buildings and other infrastructure.
Strong aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, including one measured at magnitude 6.1 in eastern Indonesia.
Later Saturday, a separate magnitude-6.4 earthquake was felt in North Sumatra in western Indonesia at a depth of 163 kilometers.
Officials said the remote and mountainous terrain would make assessing the full extent of destruction difficult.
Authorities advised residents to remain calm and avoid coastal areas and buildings showing signs of structural damage while aid was dispatched to affected communities.