Indonesia Earthquake: Survivors Recount Terrifying Moments After 7.7-Magnitude Quake

Rescuers searched through debris on Saturday after a powerful earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores island, killing at least 20 people and injuring six others. Rescue official Fathur Rahman said at least two people were believed to be trapped alive beneath rubble as teams worked to locate survivors. Rescue operations were complicated by landslides that blocked roads and made access to affected areas more difficult.

Residents described intense shaking during the early-morning earthquake, with many rushing out of their homes as objects and parts of buildings fell. Yulian Juita Ekalia, a university lecturer living in Ruteng, more than 100 kilometres from the epicentre, described the movement as feeling like being on a trampoline. She said she was jolted awake at around 5:30 am local time and found household items scattered after the shaking.

Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning after the shallow earthquake, prompting residents in areas near the epicentre to move towards higher ground. Witnesses reported that the sea appeared to retreat in Nagekeo, raising fears of a possible tsunami. The warning was later lifted, but authorities urged residents to stay away from damaged buildings because strong aftershocks could cause weakened structures to collapse.

Also Read: 4.2 Magnitude Quake Hits Uttarkashi District In Uttarakhand

The island continued to experience dozens of aftershocks, with the strongest reported at magnitude 6.1. Residents remained outdoors for hours after the main earthquake, with some preparing food outside because they feared returning indoors. At a hospital, patients were reportedly moved to emergency tents, while some residents described cracked walls and other visible damage. The full extent of the destruction was still being assessed, particularly in rural areas where access remains difficult.

Yohanes Babo, a resident of Nagekeo, recalled being at a market when the ground began shaking strongly. He said people panicked and ran in different directions before evacuating towards the hills. In other parts of Flores, residents were seen leaving on foot, motorcycles, cars and pickup trucks following the tsunami warning. Officials continued to assess damage to homes and other structures while rescue teams focused on locating people who may remain trapped.

Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area of intense seismic activity extending through Southeast Asia and around the Pacific basin. Flores was previously hit by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1992 that triggered a tsunami and killed around 2,500 people. The country has also experienced major disasters including the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, which killed around 220,000 people across the region, and major earthquakes and tsunamis in Lombok and Sulawesi in 2018.

Also Read: Japan Earthquake: Rescue Teams Search Collapsed Mall, Factory After 6.8 Magnitude Quake