At least 20 killed as magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off eastern Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, killing at least 20 people, according to the French news agency AFP, citing a local disaster official. Fathurrahman, an official in the town of Momere coordinating search and rescue efforts, said 20 people had died, six were injured and two remained trapped under rubble. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 68 kilometers northwest of Andi province, off the island's northern coast, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Two aftershocks of magnitudes 5.6 and 5.9 were recorded in the same area. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning, noting that small waves could reach Flores' coastline. Officials said aftershocks could continue and urged residents to move to higher ground. Indonesia and surrounding countries lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an active seismic belt stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin, and experience frequent earthquakes.