7.7-Magnitude Undersea Quake Triggers Tsunami Alert in Eastern Indonesia

An undersea earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale occurred north-northwest of Ende on the island of Flores, Indonesia, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor was felt across much of Flores, and initial observations indicated damage to homes and public facilities, though official casualty figures have not yet been released.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning, advising residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and to relocate to higher ground as tide gauges are monitored. The agency located the shallow quake near Flores island.

"Many buildings here were damaged ... I saw that the waiting room at the Pelni port terminal in Maumere had collapsed," said Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka regency.

Two aftershocks followed the main event. Australia’s tsunami warning centre assessed that the quake poses no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.

The region lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it susceptible to strong seismic activity. The quake follows a recent 7.4-magnitude event in western Colombia that caused extensive damage.