Residents urged to avoid beaches after 7.7 quake in NTT

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged residents to stay away from beaches after a magnitude 7.7 struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) early Saturday, despite the lifting of a tsunami warning.

“Please remain calm. Although the tsunami warning has been lifted, we urge people to stay away from beaches until further notice from BMKG,” BNPB’s Acting Chief on Data, Information, and Communications, Berton S.P. Panjaitan, said.

Residents were also urged not to enter buildings, particularly those with cracks or other structural damage.

“They could be dangerous if aftershocks occur,” Berton said.

BNPB confirmed at least two people had died by Saturday morning after the earthquake struck Nagekeo District in East Nusa Tenggara. The two fatalities were recorded at El Say Port in Sikka District.

“Based on preliminary reports, the earthquake affected the El Say Port area in Sikka District, killing two people, one man and one woman, and injuring another,” Berton said.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the tsunami warning ended at 7:30 a.m. local time. BMKG will continue monitoring aftershocks and provide updates to the public, officials said.

“We have ended the tsunami warning, but we will continue monitoring sea-level activity recorded at our stations,” BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Director Wijayanto said.