The death toll from the powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off Flores Island has risen to at least 54, as nearly 1,600 aftershocks continue to rattle eastern Indonesia and a new 5.7-magnitude tremor hit on Monday, complicating rescue and relief operations across the disaster zone.
The earthquake struck early Saturday at 05:58 local time off the coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, one of the most seismically active regions on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The shallow 10-kilometre depth and proximity to populated areas on Flores and neighbouring Sumbawa caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides that cut off access to remote communities.
Rising Toll and Continuing Aftershocks
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Confirmed deaths | 54 |
| Injured | 130+ |
| Displaced residents | 7,670 |
| Homes damaged | 1,300+ |
| Homes destroyed on Flores | ~250 |
| Aftershocks recorded | 1,598 |
| Largest aftershock | Magnitude 6.2 |
| Military and police deployed | 3,500+ |
| Total aid dispatched | 275 tonnes |
On Monday, a separate magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck offshore Flores, adding to the anxiety of displaced residents already dealing with the aftermath. Indonesia’s meteorology agency BMKG reported that the aftershock sequence has been relentless, with 1,598 tremors recorded since Saturday, illustrating the scale of seismic activity in the Flores back-arc thrust fault zone.
Independence Day Overshadowed
The disaster unfolded as Indonesia marked its 81st Independence Day on Monday, overshadowing celebrations in Jakarta and leaving communities on Flores focused on survival and recovery. The central government dispatched approximately 275 tonnes of aid, including ready-to-eat food, drinking water, medical teams and tents, while the military sent an additional 13 tonnes of relief supplies and 66 personnel.
More than 3,500 military and police personnel have been deployed across Manggarai, Maumere and other affected regions. Emergency crews have been using helicopters, heavy equipment and extraction tools to search damaged structures, though landslides have blocked roads in several areas and power outages have complicated efforts to reach isolated communities.
“Rescuers were digging through collapsed buildings and clearing landslide-blocked roads Monday as the death toll continued to climb,” Gulf News reported, noting that the shift from immediate rescue to relief and recovery was underway.
East Nusa Tenggara authorities have declared a 14-day state of emergency. The Wae Rebo tourism destination on Flores has temporarily suspended visits because trekking routes remain vulnerable to landslides. University Nusa Nipa and the NTT police have begun providing psychological support to children and other displaced residents. The earthquake has become one of Indonesia’s most serious disasters of 2026 and the deadliest since the 2022 Cianjur earthquake in West Java, which killed more than 600 people.
Sources: Gulf News; Reuters; BBC; BMKG (Indonesia Meteorology Agency); Antara News Agency
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