A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores island on Saturday, killing at least 47 people and injuring around 50, with rescuers searching through debris as landslides complicate relief operations.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the magnitude scale struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday morning, leaving at least 47 people dead and approximately 50 injured, according to the national disaster management agency (BNPB). The shallow quake hit the popular tourist destination early on August 15, with its epicentre located just off the north coast of the island. Rescue teams have been systematically searching through collapsed structures, though landslides blocking key roads have hindered access to affected areas.

The destruction across the region was extensive, with nearly 160 houses damaged alongside dozens of educational and health facilities and other public buildings. Many residents remain without electricity and telecommunications services. The BNPB reported that people were trapped in several buildings, which became immediate priorities for response teams. Around 2,000 individuals are sheltering in temporary facilities, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies mobilising preparations to deliver assistance. The government dispatched 50,000 aid packages totalling 275 tonnes to the affected areas.

Eyewitness accounts captured the intensity of the tremor. A university lecturer in Ruteng city, located over 100 kilometres west of the epicentre, described the sensation as being "on a trampoline," with household items falling as she rushed outside. In Nagekeo, near the epicentre, residents observed the sea retreating early Saturday—a potential tsunami warning sign—prompting evacuations to higher ground. Waves of up to 1.6 metres were recorded in some coastal regions. While an initial tsunami warning was issued, it was subsequently lifted, though authorities cautioned residents against re-entering damaged structures due to risks from ongoing aftershocks.

Hundreds of aftershocks followed the initial quake, with the strongest measuring 6.1 in magnitude. A separate 6.9-magnitude earthquake occurred approximately 12 hours later near Pematangsiantar on Sumatra island, though this caused no reported casualties or damage. Flores lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic activity that makes Indonesia one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions. The island experienced a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1992 that killed around 2,500 people.