Magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills at least 47 in Indonesia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Flores region in eastern Indonesia on August 14, 2026, killing at least 47 people, according to the country's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The epicenter was located about 68 km north-northwest of the city of Ende, in East Nusa Tenggara province, at a depth of just 10 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

A shallow, destructive quake

The shallow depth helps explain how strongly the tremor was felt on land. Shallow earthquakes concentrate energy near the surface and tend to cause more damage to buildings than deep quakes of similar magnitude. The USGS placed the event at a yellow alert level, signaling expected localized impact.

According to the BNPB, the quake destroyed at least 157 homes and damaged around 200 others. Roughly 2,000 residents of the Nagekeo area left their homes and were moved to temporary shelters.

Tsunami waves along the coast

Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency (BMKG) recorded tsunami waves at ten coastal points after the quake. The largest reading was 0.94 meters, observed in Maurole, in the Ende district. Warnings were issued and later lifted as sea levels stabilized.

More than 230 aftershocks in a day

Over the course of the day, the island was shaken by more than 230 aftershocks, the strongest at magnitude 6.2. Aftershocks are expected after a major earthquake and tend to decrease in frequency over the following days, though they can keep rescue teams and returning residents on alert.

Indonesia on the Ring of Fire

Indonesia is among the most seismically active countries on the planet, sitting on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet. Large-magnitude quakes are recurrent across the archipelago, making seismic monitoring and evacuation protocols part of local authorities' routine.

Seismic data: USGS. With information from the BNPB, BMKG, Al Jazeera, NBC News and CNN.