2 weeks ago
Twin quakes rattle Indonesia; 7.7-magnitude tremor leaves 38 dead
On Saturday, the ground shook very hard in Indonesia.
The first earthquake was very powerful, measuring 7.7 on the earthquake scale.
It hit near the Flores region, where buildings fell down and landslides covered roads.
At least 38 people died and 13 people were hurt.
Because the sea pulled back from the shore, leaders warned people that a giant wave called a tsunami might come, so about 2,000 people moved to higher ground.
Later, officials said the tsunami danger had passed.
Smaller earthquakes, called aftershocks, kept shaking the area, and the biggest one measured 6.1.
Hours later, another big earthquake shook Indonesia, and scientists disagreed a little about how strong it was — one group said 6.5 and another said 6.8.
Luckily, there were no reports of anyone hurt or big damage from that second quake.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region on Saturday, killing at least 38 people and injuring 13 others.
Hours later a second major quake struck, reported as magnitude 6.5 by India's National Center for Seismology and magnitude 6.8 in northern Sumatra by Germany's GFZ.
The quake damaged and collapsed buildings, triggered landslides, caused power outages and disrupted communications, hampering rescue efforts.
A tsunami warning issued after the first tremor was later lifted, and residents moved to higher ground after the sea reportedly retreated.
Around 2,000 residents were evacuated and hundreds stayed outdoors as aftershocks continued, the strongest measured at magnitude 6.1.
- Who
- At least 38 people were killed and 13 injured in Indonesia; India's National Center for Seismology (NCS), Germany's German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), and Indonesia's disaster management agency reported the events.
- What
- A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in the Flores region killed at least 38 people, and a second quake (recorded as 6.5 by NCS and 6.8 by GFZ) struck hours later.
- Where
- Flores region (Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara), epicentre at 8.557°S, 121.181°E; the second quake's epicentre was 3.043°N, 99.105°E, reported by GFZ as striking northern Sumatra.
- When
- Saturday, August 15; the 7.7-magnitude quake hit around 3:28 am IST and the second quake at 4:24 pm IST.
- Why
- The powerful tremor made the sea temporarily retreat and triggered a tsunami warning, prompting residents to move to higher ground for safety.
Key facts
- First quake magnitude
- 7.7
- Death toll
- At least 38
- Injured
- 13 (2 serious, 11 minor)
- First quake epicentre
- Off Flores coast, 8.557°S, 121.181°E (Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara)
- Second quake magnitude
- 6.5 per NCS; 6.8 per GFZ
- Second quake details
- 4:24 pm IST, August 15; epicentre 3.043°N, 99.105°E; depth 158 km per GFZ
- Tsunami warning
- Issued after first quake, later lifted
- Residents evacuated
- Around 2,000
- Strongest aftershock
- Magnitude 6.1
Sources
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