Flores earthquake death toll climbs to 47 after 7.7-magnitude strike
Synopsis
A 7.7-magnitude quake off Flores Island has killed 47 people, damaged 346 homes and knocked out schools, clinics and government offices — and it wasn't Indonesia's only major tremor that day. A separate 6.4-magnitude quake struck North Sumatra hours later, a stark reminder of how relentlessly the Ring of Fire tests the world's largest archipelago.
Key Takeaways
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores Island , eastern Indonesia on 15 August , killing at least 47 people .
At least 346 houses were damaged, including 157 severely ; 87 educational facilities and 18 health facilities were also affected.
A tsunami warning issued after the quake was subsequently lifted by BMKG .
Landslides blocked roads in East Nusa Tenggara province; several flights were cancelled.
Relief supplies are being dispatched from Jakarta via Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base .
A separate 6.4-magnitude quake struck North Sumatra the same day, with no immediate casualties reported.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, 15 August has killed at least 47 people, according to the country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The quake, centred near Mbay town in Nagekeo Regency, also triggered a tsunami warning that was subsequently lifted by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Scale of Destruction
The BNPB's latest update confirmed that at least 346 houses have sustained damage — 157 severely, 41 moderately, and 148 slightly. Public infrastructure has also taken a heavy blow, with 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, and six government offices reported damaged across the affected region.
Roads Blocked, Flights Cancelled
Melki Laka Lena, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a press conference in Kupang on Saturday that landslides had cut off or blocked several roads, complicating rescue and relief operations. Several flights in the province were also cancelled in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
Relief Operations Under Way
The BNPB has mobilised food and essential supplies to the affected areas, drawing on a logistics warehouse in East Flores Regency. Additional relief supplies are being airlifted from Jakarta via Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base. Rescue teams are continuing to assess casualties and damage across the region.
Second Quake Strikes North Sumatra
In a separate incident on the same day, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck North Sumatra province at 5:54 pm local time, with its epicentre located approximately 11 km southeast of Simalungun at a depth of 163 km. The BMKG said the tremor was felt across several areas of North Sumatra but carried no tsunami potential. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have emerged from that event. The two quakes hitting Indonesia in a single day underscore the country's position on the seismically volatile Ring of Fire.
What Comes Next
Rescue teams remain on the ground in Flores as the full extent of casualties and structural damage is still being assessed. With roads blocked and public facilities compromised, humanitarian access remains a concern. The death toll is expected to rise as teams reach more remote pockets of the affected zone.
Point of View
Yet the Flores death toll — already at 47 with rescue teams still reaching blocked roads — points to a persistent gap between disaster-preparedness investment and on-ground response capacity. The same-day 6.4-magnitude tremor in North Sumatra is not coincidental; it is structural. What the BNPB's rapid logistics mobilisation shows is that central coordination has improved; what the road blockages and cancelled flights reveal is that last-mile connectivity in eastern Indonesia remains the critical vulnerability. With the tsunami warning lifted, the immediate risk has narrowed — but the humanitarian window for reaching isolated communities is closing fast.
NationPress
16 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have died in the Flores Island earthquake?
At least 47 people have been killed following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off Flores Island in eastern Indonesia on 15 August. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue to assess remote areas.
What magnitude was the Flores Island earthquake?
The earthquake measured 7.7 in magnitude and was centred near Mbay town in Nagekeo Regency. It struck early Saturday and was followed by several strong aftershocks.
Was a tsunami triggered by the Flores earthquake?
A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake but was subsequently lifted by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). No tsunami impact has been reported.
What damage has been reported from the Flores earthquake?
At least 346 houses were damaged — 157 severely, 41 moderately, and 148 slightly. Public facilities including 87 educational institutions, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, and six government offices were also affected. Landslides blocked several roads in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Did another earthquake hit Indonesia on the same day?
Yes, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck North Sumatra province at 5:54 pm local time on the same day. Its epicentre was about 11 km southeast of Simalungun at a depth of 163 km. BMKG said it carried no tsunami potential and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
