Authorities are urging coastal residents to move inland or to higher ground following the earthquake near Flores Island. Published August 15, 2026 August 15, 2026 A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed at least five people after hitting the coast of Flores island in Indonesia, causing widespread damage. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred early Saturday at 5:58 a.m. 68 kilometers (42 mi) northwest of Ende city, East Nusa Tenggara province. The USGS estimated the depth at 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Three aftershocks occurred in half an hour, with magnitudes of 5.9, 5.6 and 6.1. East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said preliminary reports indicated two deaths in Sikka Regency and three in Manggarai Regency, as the earthquake caused severe damage and collapsed buildings. Outages in cities and towns have hampered the flow of information and complicated search and rescue efforts, he added. East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena told reporters that five people were killed by collapsing debris while they slept. According to officials, the death toll is expected to rise further as emergency teams continue to work after the earthquake. The Maumere region was severely impacted. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning for the affected coasts, urging residents to stay away from beaches and river banks and move to higher ground. The warning has since been lifted. The extent of the damage is still “emerging.” USGS estimates suggest that more than half a million people on the eastern Indonesian island of Flores likely experienced very strong shaking, and several million more people across the region felt moderate to strong shaking. Local authorities said they were continuing to monitor the situation and assess the risk of further aftershocks in the coming hours. “Several days,” according to local weather agencies. In northern areas of the island, residents have been ordered to evacuate as the extent of the damage is still “emerging,” Washington said. “Many houses have been damaged.” Washington added that local authorities cannot reach several affected areas, which remain “closed” so that they can receive assistance and first responders. Authorities have also advised locals to stay away from shorelines and buildings, he said. Indonesia, a nation of more than 270 million people spread across approximately 17,000 islands, is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. The same stretch of coast was hit by an equally powerful earthquake in December 1992, when the quake and the tsunami it caused killed more than 2,500 Flores people.
