BBC: At least two people have died following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia early on Saturday morning, sending people in Maumere, the main town on the island of Flores, running into the street.
Video taken at the port shows large chunks of concrete breaking off the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. Some were thrown into the sea when the gangway to the ship collapsed.
A stream of people could be seen moving inland on motorbikes after authorities issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.
Search and rescue teams are in Maumere working to free anyone trapped in damaged buildings.But it will take time to assess the full extent of the destruction in the region, which is remote and mountainous.
The two people killed were a man and a woman, according to the National Disaster Management Agency, known in Indonesia as the BNPB.
“The victim data is still being verified and further data collection is being conducted by the field team,” the statement said.The quake struck the Flores region in East Nusa Tenggara shortly before 05:00 local time. It had a depth of 15km, the Indonesian agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics said in a statement.
Authorities initially issued a potential tsunami warning after the quake, but it was later declared over.
Indonesia’s national disaster management agency later issued a statement saying that the agency was prioritising public safety and preventing additional casualties from aftershocks and related hazards.
Strong aftershocks were felt in the same area, including one with a magnitude of 6.1. The agency advised people to remain calm and stay away from coastal areas.
“Residents should also avoid entering buildings, especially those that have already sustained cracks or structural damage,” BNPB said.
“A rapid assessment is currently underway to determine the number of casualties and the extent of the impact. We will provide that information after the data has been verified.”
