Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Flores (Agenzia Fides) - This morning, around 11:20 a.m. local time (04:20 a.m. Italian time), an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 was recorded about 91 kilometers north of Maumere, in Indonesia, the second largest city on the island of Flores. Father Luigi Galvani, Camillian missionary on the island of Flores, informed Agenzia Fides of the disaster. Three powerful earthquakes frightened us a lot", he wrote. I felt like I was on a boat in the waves of a rough sea. The roof sheets were creaking seriously and we were already thinking of some collapses, but fortunately, thank God, the damage does not seem to be very serious at the moment. "Our structures are still intact", continues the Camillian. Many people who are along our beaches feared a tsunami and fled. We hope that the five volcanoes on our island, which are dormant for the moment, will continue to sleep. The epicenter of the earthquake was recorded in the sea and in the Larantuka region, which is about 100 km from Maumere. We hope for the best and that the Lord protects us", he concludes. As reported by the international press, local authorities have announced that no major damage has been reported in the area affected by the earthquake. Fortunately, with regard to the wounded and the dead, the toll is still zero. (LG/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 14/12/2021)
