A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, killing at least five people and damaging buildings across East Nusa Tenggara province as aftershocks continued and rescue teams searched for survivors.

The governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, told a press conference that the five victims died in their sleep when rubble collapsed on them. Local search and rescue officials later reported a higher toll. Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency, said rescuers had recovered 20 bodies in the affected regencies of Sikka, West Manggarai and East Manggarai, with six people injured and two still believed trapped under debris or landslide material.

The United States Geological Survey located the epicenter about 68 kilometers (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency recorded the main shock shortly before 6 a.m. local time at a depth of 15 kilometers. Multiple aftershocks followed, including one measuring magnitude 6.1.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi........

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