A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores island early Saturday, killing at least 47 people and injuring many more, the nation's disaster mitigation agency announced. The official death toll has been rising as search and rescue operations commenced.

The quake hit shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday (22:00 GMT on Friday) at a relatively shallow depth of 15km, which typically leads to more destructive surface effects. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that hundreds of buildings were damaged by the main tremor and subsequent aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.4 event.

Many of the fatalities occurred while people were sleeping, as collapsing rubble trapped residents. Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena of East Nusa Tenggara province confirmed the deaths at a news conference. Video footage from Maumere port captured concrete debris falling from a terminal building, with some people falling into the sea when a gangway collapsed.

A tsunami warning was issued following the quake, prompting thousands to evacuate their homes and move inland or to higher ground. The warning was lifted approximately three hours later after no significant sea level rise was detected. The BNPB stated that 2,000 people had evacuated or relocated on their own initiative.

Several areas reported casualties, with Manggarai province being among the most affected, recording 24 fatalities. East Manggarai saw 17 deaths, Sikka province had three, and at least one death was reported in Ngada, Ende, and West Manggarai provinces. In addition to the fatalities, at least two people were seriously injured and 11 sustained minor injuries.

Residents described intense shaking and a palpable sense of fear. Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura village, recounted being startled awake and immediately checking on his child. He observed many people fleeing to the hills, while others gathered by the roadside due to the sea receding, a phenomenon that heightened panic.

Even after the main tremor subsided, many residents were hesitant to return to their homes due to the ongoing aftershocks. Yulian Juita Ekalia, a university lecturer from Ruteng, described moving her cooking stove outdoors as a safety precaution, stating she had never experienced such a powerful earthquake.

The BNPB is coordinating search and rescue efforts, with the damage assessment ongoing. The incident highlights Indonesia's vulnerability to seismic activity, situated as it is on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.