Dozens killed in powerful Indonesia earthquake

At least 38 people were killed after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province on Saturday, according to the head of the country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Suharyanto said at a news conference that 13 people suffered injuries in the quake, with two in a serious condition, while around 2,000 people have fled affected areas. One hospital, located in Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency, was damaged along with other buildings and roads. Although five airfields were impacted, the BNPB chief did not specify the extent of the damage or the names of the airfields. It is not believed the runways were damaged.

The 38 people died in four regencies on Flores Island — Sikka, Manggarai, East Manggarai and West Manggarai. Flores Island is the hardest hit island in East Nusa Tenggara province. No serious damage has been reported on other islands.

The earthquake's epicenter was at sea, about 30 kilometers northeast of central Flores, at a depth of 15 kilometers.

The earthquake was also felt in the eastern part of West Nusa Tenggara province and on small islands in South Sulawesi province, forcing people to leave their homes, according to television reports.

Flores residents said many people are remaining outside their homes, including in hilly areas, fearing a tsunami, although the BNPB had insisted there was no such threat. Tremors were still being felt in some areas on Saturday afternoon.

In some places, people set up tents near hospitals to serve as temporary medical facilities because of fears of further tremors.

In the West Manggarai capital of Labuan Bajo, a fishing village located at the western part of Flores Island, people felt the earthquake tremors, and local authorities were assessing the damage.

"Local authorities have called on all tour guides to cancel their trips in anticipation of possible further earthquakes," said Heribertus Ajo, a tour agency executive.

Indonesia's Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said the government would do its best to ensure effective emergency and relief operations in all areas of NTT affected by the earthquake.

Suharyanto said the central government had held a special coordinating meeting to address the earthquake, while special observation teams would be dispatched immediately, and relief assistance packages would be provided to the affected areas.

He added that, with the situation still developing, he would brief the media and public daily.

Prime Sarmiento in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

Leonardus Jegho is a freelance journalist for China Daily.