Indonesia Hit by 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunami Warning

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores Island early on August 15, 2026, triggering a tsunami warning and prompting widespread evacuations across eastern Indonesia. The quake, centered about 68 kilometers north-west of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, occurred at a depth of 10 to 15 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The tremor was initially recorded as a 6.9-magnitude quake but was later upgraded to 7.7, with several aftershocks, including a 6.1-magnitude jolt, shaking the region.

Residents in coastal areas, particularly in Nagekeo regency and Maumere, rushed to higher ground as authorities issued a tsunami warning. The BMKG warned of potential waves ranging from 0.5 meters to 3 meters, affecting East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. “We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts, on the southern islands and across the southern region, to carry out self-evacuation immediately,” said Abdul Muhari, an official at Indonesia’s national disaster agency, BNPB. Evacuees included hundreds in Nagekeo, where damaged buildings and collapsed structures were reported.

Footage from Kompas TV showed a hospital in Ende moving patients outdoors, while a video from Maumere captured parts of a building collapsing as people fled. “Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked,” said Lukas Lotar, a 31-year-old hospital employee, describing cracked walls and chaotic scenes. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka regency, reported collapsed buildings at a port terminal, adding that “many buildings here were damaged.” Despite the panic, no immediate casualties were confirmed, though tsunami waves of 19 to 30 centimeters were detected.

The BMKG lifted the tsunami warning by 8:42 a.m. local time, stating it would continue monitoring sea levels. Australia’s tsunami warning center confirmed the quake posed no threat to its mainland or territories. However, the USGS noted that up to 500,000 people were exposed to “very strong or severe shaking,” raising concerns about potential damage in poorly constructed areas. The agency’s preliminary data suggested “slight to moderate damage in well-built structures and great damage in poorly built structures.”

Indonesia’s location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” makes it prone to frequent seismic activity. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude quake off Sumatra, killed over 170,000 in Indonesia alone. More recently, a 7.5-magnitude quake and tsunami in 2018 struck Sulawesi, killing over 4,300 people. The latest event echoes historical warnings, including a 1992 quake near Flores that caused a tsunami killing 2,500. “This earthquake has the potential to generate a tsunami in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara,” said BMKG earthquake and tsunami director Wijayanto.

While no major casualties were reported, the quake disrupted daily life, with residents in Maumere describing receding sea levels—a common precursor to tsunamis. “The sea in the area could be seen receding,” an AFP correspondent noted. Authorities emphasized caution, urging people to avoid beaches and riverbanks. The USGS and BMKG continue to assess the full impact, as Indonesia remains vulnerable to seismic hazards. “The archipelago, made up of more than 17,000 islands, lies along the Ring of Fire,” a source explained, underscoring the region’s ongoing risk.