Indonesia: A magnitude-5.6 offshore earthquake occurs in the Flores Sea at around 16:40 April 2

Event

A magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurred in the Flores Sea at 16:40 April 2. The epicenter was about 70 km (44 miles) north-northwest of Bima. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 30 km (19 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout western West Nusa Tenggara, eastern East Nusa Tenggara, northern Sumba, and southern South Sulawesi. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.