Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia and tsunami warning issued

MAUMERE, Indonesia (AP) — A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, damaging buildings and homes, and triggering a tsunami warning. Authorities urged people on affected coastlines to move to higher ground. The U.S Geological Survey said the quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 a.m. Indonesia time. Its epicenter was 68 km (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of casualties.Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for part of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, and urged residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. The agency located the shallow undersea quake near Flores island. Residents on the coast were advised to move to higher ground as officials were closely monitoring coastal tide gauges for any changes. Story continues below advertisement The quake was felt across much of Flores island. Initial reports indicated there was damage to homes and public facilities, though of...