Rescuers searched damaged communities across Flores as landslides, power failures and hundreds of aftershocks complicated relief efforts.
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores region has killed at least 51 people, injured more than 100 and forced thousands from their homes as rescue crews search damaged communities and work to reopen roads blocked by landslides.
The earthquake struck early Saturday, Aug. 15, off the northern side of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the quake at a depth of about 10 kilometers, or 6 miles, while Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG, measured a depth of 15 kilometers. Authorities issued a tsunami warning after the quake before lifting it later that morning.
By Sunday, Reuters reported that authorities had raised the death toll to at least 51 after additional victims were recovered. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said 36 people had serious injuries and 77 had minor injuries. The Associated Press separately reported that the National Search and Rescue Agency had recorded 101 injured people, reflecting figures released by different agencies as the response continued.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, said more than 5,000 people remained displaced. An official update early Sunday listed 3,356 displaced residents in Sikka and another 2,078 in Manggarai, along with hundreds more in Nagekeo and other affected areas. Some residents stayed in public shelters, while others set up temporary places to sleep outdoors because they feared additional strong tremors.
The earthquake caused widespread damage to homes and public buildings. BNPB said preliminary data showed 914 homes were heavily damaged, 126 suffered moderate damage and 317 had lighter damage. The agency also reported damage to 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities and 38 government offices. Damage assessments were continuing, and the totals could change as officials reached more communities.
Rescue and relief operations were complicated by landslides, broken roads, disrupted communications and electrical outages. Authorities said teams were still searching damaged areas and checking reports of people who could be trapped or missing. Sections of the Trans-Flores road network were blocked after the quake, cutting access to some communities and slowing the movement of equipment and aid.
By Sunday, officials said crews had reopened some routes that had initially been isolated. However, the road connecting Ende and Nagekeo remained cut, according to BNPB. The agency said a field hospital had been established in Reok in Manggarai to support emergency medical care. More than 3,500 military and police personnel were deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations, Reuters reported.
The quake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. BNPB reported 341 aftershocks by Sunday, while an earlier BMKG count recorded 235 by Saturday afternoon. BMKG said the aftershocks ranged from magnitude 2.5 to 6.2 during the earlier monitoring period. The continued shaking added to fears among residents and complicated efforts to inspect damaged buildings.
BMKG initially issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi after determining that the earthquake had the potential to generate dangerous waves. The agency later said the tsunami threat had ended at about 7:30 a.m. local time Saturday. Monitoring stations recorded changes in sea level at several locations, but authorities did not report a destructive tsunami.
The government has begun organizing a larger emergency response across the affected region. BNPB chief Suharyanto ordered the creation of national and regional command posts, expanded logistics operations and continued search-and-rescue work. He also directed authorities to restore essential services, including electricity, clean water, fuel supplies and communications, while damage assessments proceed.
Several affected districts have declared or begun establishing emergency response periods. BNPB said Manggarai declared a 90-day emergency period, Ngada established a 30-day emergency response and East Manggarai set an emergency preparedness period through Sept. 4. Provincial authorities were also working on an emergency declaration to help speed the release of resources and assistance.
Flores lies in one of Indonesia’s most seismically active areas. The country sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. Flores was also struck by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1992 that killed about 2,500 people.
Search teams remained in the field Sunday as authorities worked to confirm casualties, reach isolated communities and distribute food, water, medicine, tents and other supplies. Officials said casualty and damage figures remained preliminary as assessments continued across the hardest-hit parts of Flores.
Author note: Last updated August 16, 2026.