7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Indonesia, Tsunami Alert

Damaged houses are seen following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Ruteng, Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on August 15, 2026.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday, triggering a tsunami warning and prompting hundreds of residents to evacuate to higher ground.

The shallow earthquake struck off the island’s northern coast, about 68 kilometres northwest of Ende, according to the US Geological Survey. Several strong aftershocks followed, including one measuring 6.1.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned that the earthquake had the potential to generate tsunami waves in parts of East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara.

Authorities issued an alert for waves measuring between 0.5 and three metres.

Residents in Maumere, on Flores Island, were seen moving to higher ground as a precaution. The sea was also reported to have receded in some areas, a phenomenon that can occur before a tsunami.

Television footage showed hundreds of residents evacuating in nearby Nagekeo regency, while some buildings were reported damaged.

Authorities had not reported any deaths or serious injuries at the time of the report. However, tsunami waves measuring between 19 and 30 centimetres were detected.

A hospital worker in the affected area said the earthquake caused panic among patients and staff, with some fleeing the building. Cracks were also reported in some walls.

Indonesia frequently experiences earthquakes because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense seismic activity extending across the Pacific basin.

The country has suffered several devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, including the 2004 magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra that triggered a massive tsunami and killed about 220,000 people across the region.

In 2018, an earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Sulawesi, killing or leaving missing more than 4,300 people. Earlier that year, a series of earthquakes on Lombok and neighbouring Sumbawa killed more than 550 people.