111 dead, 176,621 displaced and over 36,000 structures damaged after East Nusa Tenggara quake
Revised toll after the 7.7-magnitude quake on 15 August: 111 dead, 176,621 displaced and more than 36,000 buildings damaged.
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province on 15 August, killing 111 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless, authorities said. The quake flattened and damaged a wide swath of buildings across the province, including in popular tourist areas.
Berton Pandjaitan, head of the Communications Center at the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), said that 176,621 people are currently staying in temporary shelters. In addition to the confirmed 111 fatalities, 1,678 people were injured and more than 36,000 homes and public facilities were damaged.
Seismological services have recorded a large number of aftershocks since the initial tremor — 8,193 in total across the province — complicating relief work and assessments of structural damage.
Rescue and aid operations ongoing
Search-and-rescue teams continue to work across affected areas, while aid agencies and local authorities coordinate deliveries of humanitarian assistance. Emergency crews have prioritized clearing roads and restoring access to isolated communities to speed up relief efforts.
Authorities said operations are proceeding in all impacted districts, including Labuan Bajo, the well-known tourist hub on the western tip of Flores island. Officials warned that the toll and damage estimates could change as teams reach more remote locations and complete damage assessments.
Photo: press material from the event
