East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said during a press conference, as quoted by the BBC, that the victims were killed in their sleep after rubble from collapsing structures fell on them.

Rescue and relief operations are underway as authorities work to locate and evacuate people trapped under debris.

Tsunami waves of less than one metre were recorded in several parts of Indonesia, The Jakarta Post reported. The tsunami warning was lifted about three hours after the earthquake.

According to media reports, the earthquake struck the island of Flores shortly before 5 am local time at a depth of 15 kilometres.

Several strong aftershocks were also felt in the region following the initial earthquake.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged residents to remain calm and avoid coastal areas.

The agency also advised people not to enter residential buildings showing cracks or other signs of structural damage.

Locals React

A local resident, Veronika, told ANTARA that the earthquake struck as people were preparing their children for school.

“The earthquake was startling because it happened while we were getting the children ready for school,” she said.

She described the shaking as prolonged swaying that caused dizziness similar to motion sickness.

Another resident, Adam, said he was asleep when the earthquake struck.

“Suddenly, everything in my room started shaking, and I realised it was an earthquake. I hope there was no serious damage or casualties near the epicentre,” he told the news agency.

Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura village in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, told the BBC that he was still asleep when he felt the “very strong shaking”.

“I was startled awake and immediately went to my child’s room,” he said.