Magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills dozens in eastern Indonesia

A powerful earthquake hit Flores island in eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 51 people. The magnitude 7.7 quake struck shortly before 05:00 local time, at a depth of 15 kilometres. Most deaths were in Manggarai and East Manggarai regencies. More than 100 people were injured, and around 5,000 had to leave their homes. Landslides blocked roads and cut off villages, making it hard for rescue teams to reach people. Over 1,300 homes were damaged. Power cuts left twenty petrol stations without fuel and disrupted communication across the affected areas. Rescue workers have been clearing roads to get to isolated communities. Flores is in a region that experiences earthquakes regularly.