MAUMERE, Indonesia, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar told Xinhua on Saturday afternoon that two Chinese citizens sustained minor injuries in the earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia.
The consulate has provided them with necessary consular assistance, adding that no deaths among Chinese citizens have been reported so far after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
The death toll from the powerful earthquake and several strong aftershocks rose to 38 by Saturday afternoon. Two others sustained serious injuries and 11 suffered minor injuries, while around 2,000 people have been evacuated, National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto told a news conference.
A 6.9-magnitude aftershock hit Indonesia's western Sumatra island late Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Melki Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a press conference in Kupang that several buildings and homes were damaged, and some roads were cut off or blocked by landslides.
The governor said authorities are still compiling data to assess the full extent of the destruction.
Footage shared on social media showed parts of structures collapsing into dust and rubble, with panicked residents screaming and running into the streets for safety.
Following the earthquake, multiple flights to East Nusa Tenggara province were canceled.
The earthquake, centered near Mbay town in Nagekeo Regency, struck early Saturday and triggered a tsunami warning that was later lifted by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The agency urged residents to remain vigilant against potential aftershocks.
Rescue teams are continuing to assess casualties and damage across affected areas, with further updates expected as emergency operations proceed. ■