7.7 earthquake in Indonesia: evacuation due to tsunami in the coastal areas of Flores

Indonesian authorities are urging residents of coastal areas of Flores island to immediately evacuate to higher ground following a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning.

“We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern areas, in the southern islands and throughout the southern region, to immediately self-evacuate,” said Abdul Muhari, an official with the national disaster management agency, BNPB.

Residents should "move away from the coast, moving more than two kilometers inland or moving to hilly areas more than 10 meters high," he told local broadcaster Kompas TV.