Authorities in Indonesia issued a tsunami warning, telling those in nearby areas to stay away from beaches and riverbanks following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday. Photo by Made Nagi/EPA
Aug. 14 (UPI) — A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning, the U.S. Geological Survey said Friday.
No casualties or damage were immediately reported.
“Approximately 1.5 million people were exposed to strong to severe shaking,” the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement. “Aftershocks, some potentially with strong shaking, may follow this earthquake.”
The quake’s epicenter was about 40 miles northwest of the city of Ende, located on the southern coast of Flores Island.
The country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for the area, NBC News reported.
Residents were urged to stay away from beaches and riverbanks.
The incident comes four days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, killing 273 people on Aug. 10.
On June 24, twin earthquakes — the first a 7.2-magnitude shock, followed seconds later by another reaching magnitude 7.5 — killed more than 6,000 people in Venezuela.
