At least 38 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia early on Saturday, according to the country's disaster mitigation agency, BNPB.
The toll continues to climb
The official death toll has been rising as search and rescue efforts get under way, with the agency reporting that several people had also been injured to varying degrees. Buildings across the region have been damaged, both by the initial quake and by the dozens of aftershocks that followed.
Where and how it struck
The earthquake hit the island of Flores shortly before 5:00am local time on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday), around 600 miles (1,000km) from Bali. Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency put the depth at 15km, a relatively shallow depth that tends to produce more destructive surface effects. Strong aftershocks followed in the same area, including one measuring 6.1.
Scenes of panic and destruction
Footage taken at the port in Maumere showed large chunks of concrete breaking away from the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry, with some people thrown into the sea when a ship's gangway collapsed.
Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a news conference that some victims were killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble.
Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura, a coastal village in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, said he was woken by "very strong shaking" and rushed to his child's room. He told the BBC that many residents had already fled to the hills, while others gathered along the roadside after noticing the sea had receded. "The water remained low for quite some time, so everyone panicked and ran," he said, adding that people at the local health centre had already been evacuated.
Tsunami warning lifted
A tsunami warning was issued but lifted around three hours after the initial quake, once no significant rise in sea level had been detected. Streams of people could be seen moving inland on motorbikes after the warning was issued. BNPB said around 2,000 people had evacuated or relocated on their own initiative.
According to the agency, three deaths were recorded in Sikka province, six in Manggarai province, and five in East Manggarai province. At least two other people were seriously injured, and 11 sustained minor injuries.
Residents afraid to return home
Welianto said many residents of Talibura were choosing to remain outdoors, too afraid of continuing aftershocks to return to their homes. Yulian Juita Ekalia, a university lecturer from Ruteng, west of the epicentre, said she had moved her stove outside to cook, fearing further tremors. "I have never felt an earthquake this big," she told AFP. "It felt like we were on a trampoline, it was really scary."
Assessing the damage
The full extent of the destruction across the remote, mountainous region will take time to establish. Preliminary reports indicate 54 houses were severely damaged, along with five healthcare facilities, three places of worship, six government buildings, one educational institution and a warehouse. Manggarai province is among the worst-affected areas, BNPB said.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, and to stay away from coastal areas and any structures showing signs of damage.
Indonesia is highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity, sitting at the meeting point of three major tectonic plates.
EU pledges support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced support for Indonesia in a post on X, expressing solidarity with the families of those killed and confirming that the EU would assist search and rescue efforts through Copernicus, the EU's Earth observation programme, which combines satellite and ground-based data. "Terrible news from Indonesia today. My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones in this devastating earthquake. From solidarity to action, Europe stands ready to deploy Copernicus, our eyes in the sky, to support search and rescue efforts. Indonesia, we stand with you," she wrote.
Terrible news from Indonesia today.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 15, 2026
My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones in this devastating earthquake.
From solidarity to action, Europe stands ready to deploy Copernicus, our eyes in the sky, to support search and rescue efforts.
Indonesia, we stand…
Source: BBC
