Maumere: The death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia has risen to at least 20, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and recovering those trapped under the rubble. Fathurrahman, head of the rescue agency in Maumere, reported that emergency teams have recovered the bodies of 20 people, while six others were injured, and two remain trapped under the rubble in the coastal city.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fathurrahman explained that rescue teams have not yet been able to reach Nagikyo, the area closest to the epicenter, due to communication disruptions. He added that attempts to reach the area by land have been hampered by landslides, while another team is trying to reach it by sea.

The National Disaster Management Agency reported that authorities evacuated approximately 2,000 people from Nagikyo, where damage to homes, warehouses, and government buildings was reported. Maumere is the main city in Sekka Regency on Flores Island, one of Indonesia’s islands.

The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake, before lifting it about three hours later. The agency recorded the earthquake at a depth of 15 kilometers, and it was followed by several aftershocks.