JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful magnitude 7.7 quake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, triggering a tsunami warning. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages. The U.S Geological Survey said the quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 a.m. Indonesia time. Its epicenter was 68 kms (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The initial quake was followed by two aftershocks. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning and urged residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. The agency located the shallow undersea quake near Flores island. Residents along affected coastlines were advised to move to higher ground as officials were closely monitoring coastal tide gauges for any changes. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
