Buildings affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Manggarai Regency. (BPBD Manggarai Timur)
On August 15, at least 47 people have died after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island, triggering search and rescue operations across several affected areas, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed.
The casualty figure has risen as emergency teams assess the damage and search collapsed structures. Several people were also injured, while hundreds of buildings were damaged by the main tremor and a succession of aftershocks.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 15km. Shallow earthquakes can cause more severe destruction because their energy reaches the surface with less attenuation. Manggarai reported the highest number of deaths, with 24 fatalities, followed by East Manggarai with 17. Three people died in Sikka, while Ngada, Ende and West Manggarai each recorded at least one death. Authorities also reported two people with serious injuries and 11 with minor injuries.
Footage from Maumere port showed large pieces of concrete falling from a terminal as passengers waited to board an inter-island ferry. Several people were thrown into the sea after a gangway collapsed.
The earthquake also prompted a tsunami warning, sending residents towards higher ground and inland areas. BNPB said about 2,000 people evacuated or relocated independently. The alert was lifted around three hours later after no significant rise in sea levels was detected.
Indonesia is among the countries most exposed to earthquakes, sitting along the Pacific Ring of Fire where several tectonic plates meet. Frequent seismic activity means earthquakes regularly disrupt communities across the archipelago, with shallow and powerful tremors posing a particular risk to densely populated areas.
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