7.3 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia: tsunami warning lifted
Eva Deschamps / December 14, 2021
No casualties or major property damage have so far been reported in the areas where the earthquake was felt, but authorities have urged caution.
The 18.5 km deep earthquake occurred at 04:20 B.C. (03:20 GMT) north of the island of Flores, in the Flores Sea, about 100 km from the town of Maumere, according to the USGS.
In the areas closest to the epicenter there was no damage, Antonius Hubertus Gege Hadjon, head of the East Flores district, told Metro TV. But when the earthquake happened, all the people fled their homes.
The first images from the affected area show Indonesians fleeing their homes and traffic jams of motorcycles and vehicles heading for higher ground.
The Tsunami Warning Center for the Pacific, based in Honolulu, indicated that there was no longer a risk of tsunami. Initially, it had warned of dangerous waves along the coastline within 1,000 km of the epicenter.
Shallow earthquakes tend to do more damage than deep ones.
Indonesia regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire where tectonic plates meet.