Indonesia earthquake
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The gist
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island, killing at least 20 people. The quake triggered a tsunami warning and caused building collapses and power outages.
Background
Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. The quake struck early Saturday local time, with an epicenter about 68 km north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province, at a depth of 10 km. It was one of the largest temblors to hit the area in more than 30 years.
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026 05:58A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island, with an epicenter 68 km north-northwest of Ende, at a depth of 10 km.
- Aug 15, 2026Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning, urging residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks.
- Aug 15, 2026At least 20 people were killed, with reports of collapsed buildings, power outages, and a landslide. The tsunami warning later expired.
Who’s saying what
- Officials
- East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said the earthquake caused severe damage and collapsed buildings, with power outages hampering rescue efforts.
- Experts
- Wijayanto, director of earthquake and tsunami affairs at Indonesia's geophysics agency, said the quake was one of the largest to hit the area in more than 30 years.
Still unverified
The death toll varied across reports, with initial reports of two killed later revised to at least 20; some reports mentioned missing persons and injuries, but these were not fully confirmed.