6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Indonesia’s Gulf of Tomini, Third Quake to Hit in Hours

Indonesia was jolted by another earthquake on Saturday night, marking the third major tremor to hit the country within hours as authorities continued to deal with the aftermath of a deadly earlier quake.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini at 9:55 pm IST. The quake occurred at a depth of 68 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 0.174°N latitude and 120.312°E longitude.

The latest tremor followed a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Indonesia earlier on Saturday afternoon. Hours before that, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake had struck the Flores region, leaving at least 38 people dead and triggering a tsunami warning, according to CBS News.

Indonesian disaster management officials said 38 deaths had been confirmed, while two people suffered serious injuries and 11 sustained minor injuries. Nearly 2,000 people reportedly evacuated their homes amid fears of further tremors.

The earlier quake struck at around 5:58 am local time, with the US Geological Survey placing its epicentre about 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks were subsequently recorded.

Rescue teams were searching for two villagers believed to have been buried under mud following a quake-triggered landslide. Officials also reported collapsed buildings and extensive damage in affected areas.

Power failures disrupted communications across several towns and villages, complicating rescue and relief efforts. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency deployed a helicopter to transport emergency supplies and support possible evacuations.

Aerial assistance was particularly important in East Nusa Tenggara, an island province where difficult terrain and scattered settlements can make ground access challenging.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 residents in Nagekeo regency reportedly left their homes and moved to temporary shelters as authorities continued monitoring the situation.