A 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Indonesia's Flores Island has caused 47 deaths, while there are no reports of damage from a subsequent 6.9 magnitude quake on Sumatra Island.
Foreign news agencies reported that rescue teams continued searching for survivors beneath rubble on Saturday, 15 Aug 2026 GMT+7, after a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, causing at least 47 fatalities.
Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) raised the death toll from 40 on Saturday evening. Rescue official Fathur Rahman said 50 people were injured in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake.
BNPB head Suharyanto previously stated that many victims were trapped inside several buildings, adding, “These locations will be the primary focus for disaster response teams during rescue operations.”
BNPB also reported that nearly 160 houses, along with schools, healthcare facilities, and several other public buildings, sustained damage. The government has sent 50,000 relief packages weighing over 275 tons to the affected area.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said preparations are underway to deliver aid to about 2,000 people in temporary shelters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered assistance through the EU's Copernicus Earth observation satellite system to support Indonesia's search and rescue efforts.
AFP reporters on site said residents in Nagekeo district, near the earthquake's epicenter, hurriedly evacuated to higher ground after sea levels rapidly dropped early Saturday morning—a warning sign of a possible tsunami.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported waves up to 1.6 meters in some coastal areas of Flores Island but no confirmed damage from the waves.
Although the tsunami warning has been lifted, officials urged residents not to return to damaged buildings yet, fearing aftershocks could cause further collapses.
About 12 hours after the Flores quake, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred near Pematangsiantar city on Sumatra Island, thousands of kilometers away. So far, there are no reports of damage, injuries, deaths, or tsunami alerts related to this quake.
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Source:cna