Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 51, Thousands Evacuated
An earthquake is when the ground shakes really hard.
A very big one, as strong as 7.7, hit a part of Indonesia called East Nusa Tenggara.
It happened on Saturday morning and was so powerful that it destroyed homes and caused hillsides to slide.
Sadly, at least 51 people lost their lives, and more than 100 others were hurt.
Around 5,000 people had to leave their homes to stay safe.
Many people in the Sikka area were too scared to sleep inside, so they slept outside in tents or on porches.
Rescue workers, soldiers, and police came to help find missing people and clear the blocked roads.
There were about 341 smaller shakes after the big one, which are called aftershocks.
Indonesia is in a part of the world where many earthquakes and volcanoes happen, and that place is called the Ring of Fire.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province in eastern Indonesia, killing at least 51 people, authorities said on Sunday.
Around 5,000 people have been evacuated; more than 3,300 in the Sikka region self-evacuated or were stranded at a sports arena.
The quake seriously injured 36 people and caused minor injuries to 77 others, while more than 1,300 homes were damaged, according to BNPB.
More than 3,500 military and police officers have been deployed, and 20 Pertamina petrol stations were not operational due to power outages.
The earthquake was followed by some 341 aftershocks, and the East Nusa Tenggara government is considering declaring an emergency.
- Who
- Indonesian authorities, including Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and residents of East Nusa Tenggara province.
- What
- A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 51 people, injuring over 100, and damaging more than 1,300 homes.
- When
- Saturday morning; the updated death toll was reported by authorities on Sunday.
- Where
- East Nusa Tenggara province in eastern Indonesia, particularly the Sikka region and the port town of Maumere.
- Why
- Indonesia straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet, which triggers frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- Magnitude
- 7.7
- Location
- East Nusa Tenggara, eastern Indonesia
- Death toll
- At least 51
- Seriously injured
- 36
- Minor injuries
- 77
- People evacuated
- Around 5,000
- Homes damaged
- More than 1,300
- Personnel deployed
- More than 3,500 military and police officers