Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 47

At least 47 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Several others were injured, while search and rescue teams have begun operations as authorities continue assessing the scale of the devastation.

The earthquake struck shortly before 5:00 a.m. local time at a depth of around 15 kilometers, according to Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency. Hundreds of buildings were damaged by the main quake and a series of strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1 in magnitude. Authorities warned that the shallow depth of the earthquake likely intensified its destructive impact.

Later on Saturday, another magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck North Sumatra at a depth of 163 kilometers. Rescue and emergency teams remain engaged in relief operations in the affected areas, while authorities are continuing to assess casualties, structural damage and the possibility of further aftershocks.