Archive · 15 Aug 2026
7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's Flores, Killing at Least 38
Early on Saturday morning, a very strong earthquake shook the ground near Flores, an island in Indonesia.
The earthquake was very powerful, measuring 7.7, and it happened at 5:58 in the morning.
The shaking was so strong that some buildings fell down, walls cracked, and people ran outside in a panic, including patients and students leaving buildings.
Some reports say many people lost their lives, but the exact number is still unclear because different reports gave very different numbers.
Officials warned that big waves called a tsunami might come, so they told people living near the coast to move away from the shore and go to higher, hilly ground.
Scientists watched the sea carefully, and later they lifted the tsunami warning when they saw the ocean was not behaving dangerously.
Many smaller shakes, called aftershocks, followed the big earthquake.
Earthquakes happen a lot in Indonesia because it sits on the 'Ring of Fire,' where big pieces of the Earth's surface bump into each other.
In 1992, another earthquake on Flores caused huge waves that killed about 2,500 people, so people take these warnings very seriously.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Flores island, Indonesia, early Saturday at 5:58 am local time, at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre 68 km north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Casualty reports conflicted: the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported at least 38 dead, 13 injured and 2,000 evacuating, while police chief Rudi Darmoko cited preliminary reports of five deaths (two in Sikka, three in Manggarai) and another report said at least two; one account said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
A tsunami warning was issued for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, urging residents to move inland or to higher ground; it was lifted after monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes.
Damage included the collapsed Pelni port terminal waiting room in Maumere, a building collapse at the Jayakarta hotel in Labuan Bajo, a collapsed seminary assembly hall roof in Sikka, cracked hospital walls, more than 70 damaged homes and power outages.
At least 52 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 3.6 to 6.2 were recorded, and Indonesia's location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' makes it prone to earthquakes; a 1992 quake on Flores triggered a tsunami that killed about 2,500 people.
- Who
- Residents of Flores island and East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia, including Sikka, Nagekeo, Manggarai and West Manggarai regencies and the city of Maumere; officials responding included East Nusa Tenggara police chief Rudi Darmoko, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Suharyanto, BNPB official Abdul Muhari, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the US Geological Survey.
- What
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Flores island, collapsing buildings and killing people; reported deaths ranged from at least two to at least 38, with at least 13 injured and 2,000 evacuating, and a brief tsunami warning was issued and later lifted.
- When
- Early Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 5:58 am local time.
- Where
- Off Flores island, 68 km north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia.
- Why
- Indonesia lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of intense seismic activity that makes it prone to frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Magnitude
- 7.7
- Time
- 5:58 am local time, Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Depth
- 10 km
- Epicentre
- 68 km north-northwest of Ende, East Nusa Tenggara province
- Casualties
- Conflicting reports: at least 38 dead and 13 injured (disaster agency), at least five (police preliminary: 2 in Sikka, 3 in Manggarai), at least two, or no immediate reports
- Tsunami warning
- Issued for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi; later lifted after no significant sea-level changes
- Aftershocks
- At least 52 events, magnitudes 3.6 to 6.2
- Damage
- Collapsed Pelni port terminal waiting room in Maumere; Jayakarta hotel collapse in Labuan Bajo; collapsed seminary roof in Sikka; cracked hospital walls; over 70 homes damaged; power outages
Sources
Video: Buildings Collapse As 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Indonesia, Killing 2
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's coast, topples buildings, kills at least 5
Indonesia Earthquake: Powerful 7.7 Magnitude Quake Hits Flores Region, Tsunami Warning Issued