By The South Asia Times

JAKARTA - The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday has risen to 47, with two others still buried, according to a search and rescue official.

The shallow earthquake struck the Flores region at a depth of 15 kilometers at approximately 4:58 am local time, according to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The United States Geological Survey recorded the depth at 10 kilometers.

A tsunami warning initially issued by BMKG for several areas was later lifted after waves of less than one metre were recorded. However, authorities urged residents to remain cautious and avoid coastal areas.

"Most of the people felt the shock and scattered out of their homes," Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

Tenggara Governor Melki Laka Lena confirmed that several buildings and homes were damaged, and some roads were cut off or blocked by landslides.

The earthquake was followed by 111 strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1 magnitude.

Video footage verified by Reuters showed part of a building collapsing into rubble as people screamed and fled through the streets at a port in Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores. A hospital in the Ende district moved patients outside following the earthquake, and local media reported landslides.

About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo Regency were evacuated to safe shelters, with damage reported to houses, warehouses, and government facilities. BNPB also reported traffic congestion and power outages in parts of the regency.

Yohanes Babo, a 56-year-old Nagekeo resident, told AFP he was at a market when the earthquake struck. "The shaking was strong. People were panicking, running here and there. We're evacuating for the time being... and trying to get to the hills," he said.

Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village, said, "There were 13 of us inside the house, and we all ran to save ourselves".

BMKG noted that the earthquake was caused by the Flores back-arc thrust fault, which has the potential to generate earthquakes of up to magnitude 7.8 to 7.9. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 1992 caused severe damage in the region.

Indonesia lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of volcanoes and fault lines surrounding the Pacific Basin that is highly susceptible to frequent tremors.

Meanwhile, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Pematangsiantar in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.