Symbolic imageAt least five killed as 7.7 quake collapses buildings on Flores
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores island early on Saturday, collapsing buildings and killing at least five people. A tsunami warning that sent thousands to higher ground was later lifted.
The US Geological Survey put the epicentre 68 kilometres north-northwest of the town of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara, at a depth of ten kilometres. Provincial governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said the dead were killed by falling rubble as they slept. A resident of Sikka regency said the waiting room of the Maumere port terminal had collapsed, and Reuters verified footage from that port showing a building break apart as people ran into the street. Local television showed hospital staff moving patients and equipment outdoors into improvised treatment areas.
Death tolls diverge
Fathur Rahman of the Maumere search and rescue agency told AFP that 20 people had died, six were injured and two remained buried. The national disaster agency BNPB counted one dead and four injured.
Coastal alert lifted after small waves
BMKG had warned of waves of half a metre to three metres in East and West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, then recorded waves under one metre and withdrew the alert, saying sea levels showed no threatening change. Dozens of aftershocks followed, including one of magnitude 6.1.
Other opinions
Global Times headlined a toll of two, while Le Monde and FAZ led with the rescue agency's 20; the Guardian and South China Morning Post stayed with five.