38 People Dead As 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Indonesia

At least 38 people have died after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday.

The early morning earthquake also triggered tsunami waves in several parts of the Southeast Asian country, raising concerns about further casualties and damage.

Fathur Rahman, the head of a state rescue agency, said rescue teams had not yet reached Nagekeo, the area closest to the earthquake’s epicentre.

He explained that communication networks in the area had been disrupted, making it difficult for emergency workers to assess the situation.

Rescue teams attempting to reach Nagekeo by road were reportedly stopped by landslides caused by the earthquake.

Another team was trying to reach the area by ferry.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred off the northern coast at a depth of about 10 kilometres.

Two strong aftershocks followed the main earthquake, measuring 5.6 and 5.9 in magnitude.

Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Several other countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific also sit along the same seismic zone.

Authorities have warned that the number of deaths could increase as rescue workers reach areas that remain difficult to access.

Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency, said some people were still trapped inside buildings.

He added that around 2,000 residents had already been moved to safer locations.

Officials have urged people in affected areas to move to higher ground because of the risk of further tsunami activity.

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