Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia, tsunami warning issued

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday morning, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for parts of the country. The quake hit the Flores region at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG, issued an early tsunami warning following the seismic event. The agency advised residents in coastal areas to move away from beaches and riverbanks and to seek higher ground. Officials stated they were closely monitoring tide gauges along the coast for any signs of sea-level changes. Australia's tsunami warning center assessed that the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands, or territories.

The main earthquake was followed by several significant aftershocks. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded aftershocks measuring 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1 in magnitude in the same area. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre also reported...