Key Points
- On Friday, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia in the Flores region, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- The epicentre was 42 miles north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.
- At least 47 people were killed, confirmed the National Disaster Management Agency of Indonesia (BNPB) on Saturday.
- Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicentre, has not been reached by rescue teams due to landslides closing roads and hampering communications.
- Fathur Rahman, head of the rescue agency in the port town of Maumere, said that 20 people died, six were injured, and two were trapped under the rubble.
- Initial evaluations indicate that 157 homes are heavily damaged, 41 moderately damaged, and 148 lightly damaged.
- Eighty-seven schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship and six office buildings have also suffered damage.
- The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency of Indonesia (BMKG) declared a Tsunami Alert for the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi.
- People were asked to avoid beaches and river banks and evacuate to areas of higher elevation.
- There was panic and severe structural damage reported throughout Flores Island, including the collapse of a waiting room at Maumere port terminal.
Flores (Britain Today News) August 15, 2026: A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Friday, triggering a tsunami warning, widespread structural damage and a death toll that had climbed to at least 47 by Saturday, according to the country’s National Disaster Management Agency. The quake, centred in the Flores region of East Nusa Tenggara province, left rescue teams struggling to reach some of the worst-hit areas as landslides blocked roads and communications remained disrupted well into the weekend.
- Key Points
- What Happened Off the Coast of Indonesia?
- How Powerful Was the Earthquake?
- What Is Happening in Nagekeo, the Area Closest to the Epicentre?
- What Have Eyewitnesses Said About the Earthquake?
- What Damage Has Been Reported in Maumere?
- How Much Infrastructure Has Been Damaged Across Flores Island?
- What Are Officials Advising Residents to Do Now?
- What Comes Next for Flores Island?
What Happened Off the Coast of Indonesia?
The earthquake struck in the eastern Flores region of Indonesia, an area within the country’s vast archipelago that stretches across East Nusa Tenggara province. The tremor was powerful enough to be felt across much of Flores Island, causing panic among residents and triggering both structural collapses and a formal tsunami alert from national authorities. The scale of the quake placed immediate pressure on emergency services, many of which were hampered by damaged infrastructure in the immediate aftermath.
How Powerful Was the Earthquake?
The United States Geological Survey reported the quake at a magnitude of 7.7, a reading that places it firmly among the more significant seismic events recorded globally in recent years. Earthquakes of this magnitude are capable of causing severe damage near the epicentre and can generate tsunamis when they occur under or near ocean floors, which is precisely what prompted Indonesian authorities to act swiftly with a coastal evacuation warning.
Where Was the Epicentre Located?
According to the USGS, the epicentre was situated 42 miles north-northwest of the city of Ende, within East Nusa Tenggara province. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, commonly known as BMKG, confirmed that the undersea rupture occurred at a shallow depth near Flores Island — a factor that significantly increases the likelihood of a tsunami and explains the urgency of the subsequent warning issued to coastal communities.
How Many People Have Been Killed?
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said on Saturday that at least 47 people had died as a result of the earthquake. Officials cautioned that the death toll could rise further as rescue operations continue and communications are restored with isolated communities, particularly those nearest to the epicentre where access remains severely limited.
What Is Happening in Nagekeo, the Area Closest to the Epicentre?
Nagekeo, the region situated closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, has proven the most difficult for emergency responders to reach. Landslides triggered by the quake have blocked roads leading into the area, while telecommunications networks have been disrupted, leaving officials with limited visibility into the full extent of casualties and damage there. Rescue teams were still working to reach Nagekeo as of Saturday, according to disaster management officials.
What Have Eyewitnesses Said About the Earthquake?
Residents across Flores Island described a terrifying and chaotic scene as the ground shook violently on Friday. As reported by Reuters, Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village in East Nusa Tenggara, said:
“The quake was massive; the shock was so strong. There were 13 of us inside the house, and we all ran to save ourselves.”
Her account reflects the panic felt by many across the affected region, as families fled their homes in the immediate aftermath of the tremor, uncertain whether further shocks or a tsunami might follow.
What Damage Has Been Reported in Maumere?
Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island, has emerged as one of the hardest-hit locations. Fathur Rahman, head of the city’s rescue agency, said rescuers had found 20 people dead, six injured and two others trapped under rubble in the town. He indicated that rescue operations in Maumere were ongoing as teams worked to reach those still trapped.
Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka Regency, described the scale of destruction in the town, saying:
“Many buildings here were damaged… I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed.”
Her account corroborates official assessments pointing to significant infrastructural damage across the town, including to public transport facilities.
How Much Infrastructure Has Been Damaged Across Flores Island?
Preliminary data compiled by disaster management officials paints a stark picture of the earthquake’s impact on housing and public infrastructure. According to the figures, 157 homes were heavily damaged, 41 were moderately damaged and a further 148 sustained light damage. Beyond residential property, the quake also damaged 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship and six office buildings, alongside other public infrastructure across the affected region. Officials noted that these figures were preliminary and likely to be revised as assessment teams gain access to more remote areas.
Did Authorities Issue a Tsunami Warning?
Yes. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning covering parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces shortly after the quake struck. The warning was issued on the basis that the earthquake originated from a shallow undersea rupture near Flores Island, conditions that authorities said created a heightened risk of tsunami waves reaching populated coastlines.
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What Are Officials Advising Residents to Do Now?
BMKG urged residents across the warned provinces to stay away from beaches and riverbanks in the wake of the earthquake. Coastal residents were specifically advised to move to higher ground as a precautionary measure while the tsunami threat was assessed. The advisory formed part of a broader emergency response that also included efforts by the National Disaster Management Agency to coordinate search-and-rescue operations, restore communications in isolated areas, and begin assessing the full scale of damage to homes, schools and health facilities across the region.
What Comes Next for Flores Island?
With rescue teams still unable to reach Nagekeo and communications only gradually being restored, officials have indicated that the confirmed death toll of 47 may not represent the final figure. Emergency services remain focused on reaching isolated communities, clearing landslide-blocked roads and continuing search operations for those still trapped in Maumere and other affected towns. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when full access to the worst-affected areas is expected to be restored, nor when the tsunami warning might be lifted for the four provinces currently under alert.
