7.7‑magnitude earthquake hits Flores island — at least 38 dead
A 7.7‑magnitude quake off Flores on August 15, 2026 left dozens dead, damaged buildings and prompted a short-lived tsunami alert.
On August 15, 2026, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck off the coast of Flores island in Indonesia, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than ten others, authorities said.
Severe shallow quake, tsunami alert briefly issued
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred in the morning local time at a depth of about 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located beneath the sea roughly 70 kilometres northwest of Ende in the central part of Flores. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning that was later withdrawn. Subsequent aftershocks reached magnitudes of 6.1 and 5.9.
The head of Indonesia’s national disaster agency, Suharyanto, reported the casualty figures and said rescue and assessment teams were responding to affected areas. Fatur Rahman, head of the rescue service in Maumere, told television station TvOne that many homes and other structures sustained damage.
Damage was concentrated in central Flores around Ende and nearby coastal communities, while the western part of the island — including the tourist town of Labuan Bajo — is a well-known gateway for diving and visits to Komodo National Park, home to the Komodo dragons. Bali lies about an hour’s flight west of Labuan Bajo.
Flores is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province and one of more than 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia. The archipelago sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of high seismic and volcanic activity where earthquakes and eruptions are common.
Photo: press material from the event
