Jakarta: Indonesian authorities announced on Sunday that at least 51 people were killed and approximately 5,000 evacuated after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ngamine Paulus Octavianus, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Health, reported that 36 people sustained serious injuries in the earthquake, which occurred in East Nusa Tenggara province, while 77 others suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Sika, Simon Subandi, stated that “most residents of Sika did not dare to stay inside their homes, so they slept on balconies or in tents erected outside.”

For his part, Teddy Indra Wijaya, Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretary, said in a statement that more than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed to the region to assist in relief efforts and disaster response.

The disaster mitigation agency reported that most of the missing were trapped under rubble, that more than 1,300 homes were damaged, and that 20 gas stations were out of service due to power outages.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia in early July, but caused no casualties or major damage.