Post by : Badri Ariffin

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, August 15, 2026, killing at least 53 people and forcing about 5,000 residents to evacuate as rescue teams worked to reach areas cut off by landslides and collapsed buildings.

The earthquake struck at 5:58am local time on Saturday (21:58 GMT on Friday), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Its epicentre was located about 68km (42 miles) north-northwest of Ende, on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).

The earthquake was followed by around 341 aftershocks, complicating rescue and relief operations across the affected areas.

53 Killed and More Than 100 Injured

Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said during a televised meeting on Sunday that 36 people suffered serious injuries, while another 77 people sustained minor injuries.

The scale of the damage has continued to emerge as emergency teams reach affected communities.

In Sikka regency, one of the worst-hit areas, more than 3,300 people either left their homes or became stranded. Many took shelter at a sports arena as authorities assessed the damage.

Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura village, described the intensity of the earthquake, saying her family was resting at home when the strong shaking began. She said 13 people were inside the house and everyone ran outside to escape.

Homes Destroyed and Thousands Forced Into Shelters

The earthquake caused extensive damage to homes and other buildings across East Nusa Tenggara.

BNPB chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto said at least 157 houses were destroyed and nearly 200 others were damaged.

In Nagekeo regency, the area closest to the earthquake's epicentre, about 2,000 villagers were forced to move into temporary shelters.

Overall, more than 1,300 homes have been damaged, while 20 petrol stations remain closed because of power outages, according to state energy company Pertamina.

Rescue Teams Face Blocked Roads and Disrupted Communications

Rescue operations have been complicated by the region's scattered geography, with small islands and damaged transport routes making access difficult.

Three helicopters and a rescue vessel have been deployed to assist emergency operations.

However, rescue teams have not yet been able to fully reach Nagekeo, where landslides have blocked roads and disrupted communications.

Fathur Rahman, head of the local search and rescue agency in Maumere, said a team was attempting to reach the area by ferry.

More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed across the affected region, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Residents Sleep Outside Amid Aftershock Fears

In the port town of Maumere, some residents have been staying outside their damaged homes under tarpaulin shelters. Others have received medical treatment in temporary facilities set up outside a local hospital.

Simon Sabandi, deputy chief of the region, said many residents in Sikka were afraid to remain inside buildings and instead spent the night on porches or in tents.

Medical teams have also treated earthquake victims in temporary facilities because of concerns about continuing aftershocks.

Authorities Consider State of Emergency

Officials are considering declaring a state of emergency for East Nusa Tenggara, a move that would allow additional resources and funding to be made available for the response.

A tsunami warning issued immediately after the earthquake has since been lifted.

Authorities have continued to warn residents in affected areas to remain cautious as aftershocks could continue for several days.

People in northern parts of the affected region have also been ordered to evacuate further, while officials assess damage in locations that remain difficult for emergency responders to reach.

Residents have been urged to stay away from shorelines and damaged buildings.

Flores Has Experienced Deadly Earthquakes Before

The same stretch of coastline was hit by another powerful earthquake in December 1992. That earthquake and the tsunami it generated killed more than 2,500 people on Flores, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency.

The latest earthquake is among Indonesia's deadliest in recent years.

Indonesia is spread across roughly 17,000 islands and has a population of about 290 million people. The country lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area known for significant seismic activity.

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