Powerful Earthquake Strikes Eastern Indonesia
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia overnight, toppling buildings and prompting a tsunami warning that was later lifted. At least five people were killed, according to officials, though rescuers feared the toll could rise, with some reports putting it higher. Damage was reported in the town of Ruteng and across the East Nusa Tenggara region.
Indonesia sits on the seismically violent Pacific “Ring of Fire”, and powerful quakes are a recurring danger for its sprawling archipelago, where building standards and remote geography can turn a strong tremor into a deadly disaster. The brief tsunami warning will have revived memories of past catastrophes, and its lifting brought relief even as the ground kept shaking with aftershocks. Early tolls in such events are often provisional, rising as rescuers reach cut-off villages, which is why figures ranged widely in the first hours. The authorities were assessing damage to homes and infrastructure across the affected islands. It comes as another major quake, in Colombia, is still being counted. Watch for a clearer picture of casualties as daylight assessments come in.