The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has withdrawn the tsunami warning issued shortly after the 7.7 earthquake that hit the coast of Indonesia in the early hours of Saturday (15), local time.
The tremor left at least 38 people dead, according to data confirmed by local authorities and the National Disaster Management Agency.
In addition to the deaths, the official balance records people in serious condition and with minor injuries. The governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, reported that at least five victims died after being hit by debris while they slept.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located at sea, approximately 70 kilometers away from the city of Ende, on the island of Flores.
Government data indicates that 2,000 people left their homes to seek shelter in higher areas. The USGS estimates that 1.5 million residents live in regions that experienced strong tremors.
There were records of structural damage to homes, hotels, warehouses and public buildings. Hospitals in the cities of Maumere and Ende moved patients to outdoor courtyards and makeshift tents as a precaution against further collapses.
The local police chief, Rudi Darmoko, reported that power cuts and failures in communication signals made search and rescue work difficult. Landslides caused by the earthquake blocked a 700-kilometer highway on the island of Flores.
Rescue teams are trying to access the Nagekeo region, one of the closest to the epicenter, using boats and ferries. Air support is used to transport supplies due to the difficult geography between the islands.
After the main shock, authorities recorded aftershocks in the same region. At least three aftershocks occurred, the largest of which was magnitude 6.1.
Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with tectonic plate encounters and high seismic activity, which means earthquakes are more frequent than in other regions of the planet.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
