A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the center of Indonesia on Saturday morning, local time, prompting a local tsunami warning. Three aftershocks – of magnitudes 5.9, 5.6 and 6.1 – followed, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Earthquake Details
The national geophysics agency urged residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said the shallow undersea earthquake was near Flores Island and called on residents along impacted coastlines to move to higher ground.
Authorities in Australia, across the Timor Sea, have said there is no tsunami threat to the country as of now. Initial estimates from the USGS based on the earthquake shaking indicate casualties and damage are possible, though the Indonesian government has not yet commented on this.
Indonesia has seen several devastating earthquakes in the past. The country sits on the Ring of Fire, a band around the Pacific Ocean that sets off frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
