7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia’s Flores, Killing at Least 20

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday, August 15, killing at least 20 people, injuring several others and triggering a temporary tsunami warning as authorities launched rescue and emergency operations.

The earthquake struck at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter about 30 kilometers northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The earthquake occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers and was associated with movement along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust.

Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in eastern Indonesia, is home to about 2 million people. The earthquake was felt across much of Flores and in neighboring islands and provinces, including Sumba, Lombok and parts of West Nusa Tenggara.

The death toll has risen as rescuers reached more affected areas. Initial reports put the number of fatalities much lower, but authorities continued to update the figures as damage assessments and rescue operations progressed. Reuters reported at least 20 deaths, with several people injured and others still unaccounted for.

BMKG issued a tsunami warning shortly after the earthquake for coastal areas of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi. The warning was later lifted after monitoring showed that the tsunami threat had passed.

BMKG recorded minor tsunami waves at several locations, including a wave measuring about 0.94 meters at Maurole in Ende Regency and smaller waves elsewhere along the coast.

Despite the lifting of the warning, authorities urged residents to remain cautious, stay away from damaged buildings and follow official instructions because aftershocks remained possible.

The earthquake caused building collapses and structural damage in several parts of Flores. Maumere, the capital of Sikka Regency on the island’s central-northern coast, was among the areas reporting casualties and significant damage.

At El Say Port in Maumere, a building collapsed and struck several people. Search-and-rescue teams evacuated victims from the site. Initial reports said one person died and two were injured.

Damage was also reported in Nagekeo, Ende, Manggarai and other areas. Landslides disrupted roads and complicated access to some communities, while hospitals and other facilities in affected areas took precautionary measures.

Around 2,000 people were evacuated from Nagekeo as authorities established emergency shelters and assessed damage.

The earthquake also disrupted electricity and telecommunications services in parts of East Nusa Tenggara. The state electricity company PLN began restoring affected distribution infrastructure, while telecommunications operators worked to restore cellular services.

East Nusa Tenggara authorities deployed police, military personnel, search-and-rescue teams and disaster-management agencies to assist with evacuations, medical care and damage assessments.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also strengthened its response, with its chief, Suharyanto, and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno traveling to the affected region. A helicopter was deployed to support emergency operations and deliver supplies.

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka expressed condolences to families affected by the disaster and pledged a coordinated government response, including evacuation, damage assessment and aid distribution.

The earthquake has revived memories of the devastating 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, which caused extensive destruction and thousands of deaths.

BMKG said Saturday’s earthquake was linked to the Flores Back-Arc Thrust, an active tectonic structure running along the northern part of the island and toward neighboring islands. The agency said the fault has the potential to generate earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 to 7.9.

Flores and the wider Indonesian archipelago lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active zones for earthquakes and volcanic activity.

As aftershocks continue, authorities are focusing on rescuing victims, searching damaged areas, restoring essential services and providing assistance to displaced families.

Officials have also warned residents against spreading unverified information on social media, stressing that earthquakes cannot currently be predicted precisely in terms of their time, location or magnitude.