Indonesia's Flores Quake: Nearly 1,000 aftershocks recorded, thousands remain evacuated

Patients are treated in makeshift tents outside a hospital, amid fears of aftershocks following an earthquake, in Ruteng, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug 16, 2026. - Photo: AP

JAKARTA: (Bernama) Nearly 1,000 aftershocks have been recorded following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores Island, as the death toll rose to at least 53 and thousands of residents remained at evacuation sites on Sunday (Aug 16).

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had recorded 995 aftershocks as of 3 pm local time on Sunday, although only a small number were felt by residents.

He said continued aftershocks, concerns over damaged homes and lingering trauma from the devastating 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami had prompted some residents to remain at evacuation sites. 

An earlier report said 9,290 people remained at evacuation sites as of midnight Saturday.

A man sits amid the debris from a damaged building following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Borong, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara on Aug 16, 2026. Help started arriving on Aug 16 for thousands of evacuees on Indonesia's Flores island after a powerful earthquake killed over 50 people, injured dozens and damaged hundreds of houses and buildings. - Photo: AFP

Abdul Muhari said the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 53, with 135 people injured, while no missing persons have been reported across the seven affected regencies and cities.

He said authorities were continuing to update and verify casualty data as emergency response operations entered their second day.

"Currently, there are no missing persons reported to Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency). This means that across the seven affected regencies and cities, we currently do not have a list of people being searched for,” he told an online press conference on Sunday.

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck at 4.58 am local time, with its epicentre in the sea about 30 kilometres from Mbay, Nagekeo district, at a depth of 15 kilometres.

The quake prompted a tsunami warning, which BMKG ended at 7.31 am after sea-level observations showed no further significant rise.

Abdul Muhari said emergency efforts were focused on assisting victims, providing basic supplies and assessing damaged homes, while authorities worked to restore access and essential services.

A motorbike stops next to a collapsed building following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Borong, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara on Aug 16, 2026. Help started arriving on Aug 16 for thousands of evacuees on Indonesia's Flores island after a powerful earthquake killed over 50 people, injured dozens and damaged hundreds of houses and buildings. - Photo: AFP

He said a landslide-hit section of road in Reok, Manggarai, was now passable to fuel tanker trucks, while electricity had been restored in several areas affected by blackouts.

He said BNPB has also established response posts in Labuan Bajo and Maumere, with logistics posts activated in Jakarta, Labuan Bajo and Maumere to facilitate the deployment of relief supplies, equipment and personnel.

Aircraft and helicopters have also been placed on standby to support relief operations if required, he added. - Bernama