At Least 20 Killed as 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Flores Island, Indonesia, Triggering Mass Evacuation and Tsunami Warning

MAUMERE, Indonesia — August 15, 2026 — A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the north coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia in the early morning hours of Saturday, killing at least 20 people across four towns, injuring six others, and sending thousands of residents fleeing to higher ground amid a temporary tsunami warning that has since been lifted.

The earthquake, which struck at a shallow depth approximately 68 kilometres northwest of the coastal town of Ende, represents one of the most significant seismic events to hit the Flores region in more than three decades. Indonesian and United States geological authorities confirmed the epicentre’s location just off the island’s northern coastline.

Rescue Teams Confirm 20 Dead Across Four Towns as Search Operations Continue

Rescue official Fathur Rahman confirmed to AFP on Saturday that at least 20 people had been killed across four separate towns on Flores island, with six others reported injured and two individuals still believed to be buried under rubble at the time of the initial report. A third victim was later pulled deceased from debris at the port of Maumere, according to video footage released by rescue agencies.

“From the reports we have received, 20 people have died, six are injured, and two are still buried,” Fathur Rahman stated by telephone while en route by boat to Nagekeo regency, identified as the hardest-hit area. “Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble.”

Fathur Rahman added that rescue efforts had been significantly complicated by landslides triggered by the quake, which severed several key road access routes to affected communities. Two people were confirmed to have been evacuated alive from collapsed structures in the neighbouring Manggarai regency, where two individuals had been trapped beneath rubble following the initial jolt.

The full extent of structural damage and the final casualty count remained under active assessment as of Saturday, with search and rescue teams continuing to comb through debris across multiple communities.

Thousands Evacuate on Foot and by Vehicle as Tsunami Warning Prompts Race to Higher Ground

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake triggered immediate mass evacuation across affected communities, with long queues of residents documented evacuating towns on foot, by motorbike, and by car — with many packed into the beds of pickup trucks — as authorities issued an initial tsunami warning.

In Nagekeo, the regency closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, residents raced toward elevated terrain after the sea was observed retreating — a recognised precursor to incoming tsunami waves. AFP journalists present in the area witnessed the evacuation firsthand.

Yohanes Babo, 56, a Nagekeo resident, described being at a local market when the tremors began. “The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house,” he told AFP. “People were panicking, running here and there. We’re evacuating for the time being and trying to get to the hills. My family is safe. No one was harmed.”

In Maumere, located approximately 2,500 kilometres east of Jakarta, hospital customer service official Lukas Lotar recounted how the earth “suddenly started to shake and I panicked.” He described patients fleeing the hospital building and observed cracked walls throughout the facility following the jolt.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency — known by its Indonesian acronym BMKG — subsequently lifted the tsunami warning after monitoring confirmed no significant wave activity. “We have ended the tsunami warning but we will keep monitoring the sea level,” stated BMKG earthquake and tsunami director Wijayanto.

Authorities nonetheless advised residents to refrain from returning to damaged structures, citing the continued risk of collapse from aftershocks. Dozens of aftershocks had already been recorded by Saturday, with the strongest measuring 6.1 in magnitude.

Flores Island’s Seismic History Underscores the Region’s Persistent Vulnerability

The earthquake affecting Flores island on August 14–15, 2026 carries particular historical weight. The island was struck by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1992 — an identical magnitude to the current event — which triggered a destructive tsunami that resulted in approximately 2,500 deaths.

Flores island and the broader eastern Indonesia region sit within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Indonesia and its neighbouring countries experience frequent and often deadly earthquakes as a direct consequence of their position along this zone of tectonic convergence.

Indonesia’s broader history of catastrophic seismic events is extensive. In December 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra generated a tsunami that killed approximately 220,000 people across the wider region, with roughly 170,000 deaths recorded within Indonesia alone — a disaster widely recorded as among the deadliest natural catastrophes in modern history.

In 2018, a sequence of powerful earthquakes struck Lombok island and the surrounding area, ultimately killing more than 550 people across Lombok and the neighbouring island of Sumbawa. Later the same year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

The affected area around Flores island consists predominantly of towns and villages with low-rise construction, a structural profile that increases vulnerability to seismic damage even as it reduces some risks associated with high-rise collapse.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Indonesia Flores Island Earthquake

How many people were killed in the Flores Island earthquake on August 14–15, 2026? At least 20 people were confirmed dead across four towns on Flores island as of the initial rescue agency report on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with six injured and two additional individuals still reported buried at that time. A subsequent report cited at least 47 deaths as rescue operations expanded.

What was the magnitude of the Indonesia earthquake that struck Flores in August 2026? The earthquake measured 7.7 in magnitude and struck at a shallow depth off the north coast of Flores island, approximately 68 kilometres northwest of the coastal town of Ende, in eastern Indonesia.

Was a tsunami triggered by the Flores Island earthquake? Indonesia’s BMKG issued an initial tsunami warning following the earthquake after the sea was observed retreating near Nagekeo — a potential tsunami precursor. The warning was subsequently lifted after sea level monitoring confirmed no significant tsunami waves had formed.

How many aftershocks followed the 7.7-magnitude Indonesia earthquake? Dozens of aftershocks were recorded following the main 7.7-magnitude quake, with the strongest aftershock measuring 6.1 in magnitude. Authorities warned residents not to return to damaged buildings due to ongoing aftershock risk.

Where was the epicentre of the Flores Island earthquake? The epicentre was located just off the north coast of Flores island, approximately 68 kilometres northwest of Ende, a coastal town in eastern Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, according to US and Indonesian geological authorities.

Has Flores Island experienced a major earthquake of similar magnitude before? Flores island was struck by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1992 — the same magnitude as the August 2026 event — which triggered a tsunami and caused approximately 2,500 deaths. The island sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire and is subject to frequent seismic activity.

What agency is monitoring the ongoing situation following the Indonesia earthquake? Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is actively monitoring sea levels and aftershock activity. BMKG earthquake and tsunami director Wijayanto confirmed the tsunami warning was lifted while ongoing sea level surveillance continued.

Summary

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off Flores island on August 14–15, 2026, has claimed at least 20 lives, displaced thousands of residents, and prompted a now-lifted tsunami warning across one of eastern Indonesia’s most seismically active regions. Rescue operations remain ongoing, with search teams working through debris and landslide-blocked roads to reach victims in Nagekeo and Manggarai regencies. The event reaffirms Indonesia’s persistent and acute vulnerability to major seismic disasters along the Pacific Ring of Fire, and draws direct historical parallels to the 1992 Flores earthquake of identical magnitude that killed approximately 2,500 people.

Reporting sourced from AFP dispatches filed from Maumere, Indonesia, August 15, 2026.