At least 20 dead as earthquake of 7.7 magnitude hits Indonesia

JAKARTA – At least 20 people have been killed in incidents linked to a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, with several aftershocks continuing to be felt in the affected areas. The earthquake occurred at 4:58 a.m. local time at a depth of around 35 kilometres, according to seismological authorities. A series of aftershocks followed the main tremor, raising concerns about further damage and casualties. Emergency teams have been assessing the situation and responding to incidents caused by the earthquake. Indonesia's geophysics agency initially issued a tsunami warning following the undersea quake. The warning was withdrawn around three hours later after authorities determined that the threat had passed. Indonesian officials confirmed that the death toll had reached 20, although assessments of the damage and casualties were still continuing. Meanwhile, the Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to mainland Australia, its islands or territories. The authorities continued to monitor the region for further aftershocks and assess the impact of the earthquake.