Earthquake off Indonesia kills at least one person

A strong earthquake hit the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing one person and injuring four others. The magnitude 7.7 quake struck just before 5 a.m., about 68 kilometres from the city of Ende. It was shallow, at around 10 to 15 kilometres deep, which made it more powerful at the surface. Several strong aftershocks followed. Authorities issued a tsunami warning, but lifted it later. Hundreds of people left their homes near the coast. Some buildings collapsed or were badly damaged. Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so earthquakes are common there. The Flores region has suffered serious disasters before, including a tsunami in 1992 that killed around 2,500 people.