Tragic 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's Flores Island, Triggering Tsunami Warnings and Leaving Two Dead

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Flores Island on August 15, 2026, resulting in two fatalities and prompting authorities to issue an urgent tsunami warning.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor occurred early Saturday at 5:58am local time (21:58 GMT Friday). The epicenter was located approximately 68 kilometres (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende, situated in East Nusa Tenggara province, with a recorded depth of 10km (6.2 miles). The initial quake was followed by three significant aftershocks within half an hour, measuring magnitudes 5.9, 5.6, and 6.1.

Indonesia’s national disaster agency, BNPB, confirmed in a press statement that a man and a woman died at the L Say Maumere port, while another individual sustained injuries. Footage broadcast by local media revealed extensive damage to buildings around the Maumere region and at the port itself.

In response to the seismic event, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning for vulnerable coastlines. Officials advised residents to evacuate beaches and riverbanks immediately in favor of higher ground. Abdul Muhari, an official with BNPB, strongly urged communities along the northern and southern coasts of Flores and neighboring islands to initiate self-evacuation. Speaking to local broadcaster Kompas TV, Muhari advised residents to travel more than two kilometres inland or seek refuge in hilly areas exceeding 10 metres (33ft) in height.

Meanwhile, Australia’s tsunami warning centre confirmed that the earthquake presented no threat to the Australian mainland, its islands, or its territories. USGS data estimates that over half a million residents on Flores Island experienced very strong shaking, while several million more felt moderate to strong tremors throughout the wider region. Local authorities remain on high alert to monitor ongoing risks and assess potential aftershocks.

As an archipelago of more than 270 million people distributed across roughly 17,000 islands, Indonesia sits atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the most seismically active nations globally. Notably, the same coastal stretch experienced a similar major earthquake in December 1992, which triggered a devastating tsunami that claimed over 2,500 lives on Flores.