Magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills dozens and displaces thousands in Indonesia

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, August 15, 2026, causing widespread devastation. The seismic event, which occurred at 5:58 AM local time at a depth of 10 kilometers, has resulted in at least 51 fatalities and injured more than 100 people. Many victims were reportedly killed in their sleep as buildings collapsed around them. The quake's epicenter was located 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

The earthquake triggered tsunamis up to 1.61 meters (5.3 feet) in height in some coastal areas, and more than 235 aftershocks, including one as strong as magnitude 6.2, have been recorded. Numerous landslides have further hampered rescue operations, blocking roads and isolating remote villages across six regencies on Flores. Approximately 914 homes were severely damaged, along with over 100 public facilities such as schools and health centers, forcing thousands of residents into temporary shelters.

Rescue teams are currently engaged in extensive search operations through collapsed buildings and landslide debris, working to locate missing individuals and provide assistance to the injured and displaced. Power outages and communication disruptions have complicated these efforts, particularly in the hardest-hit regencies of Manggarai and East Manggarai. Aid organizations have begun distributing essential supplies like food, water, and medicine to those affected.