The death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off Indonesia’s Flores island has risen to at least 68, with rescue teams continuing to pull victims from collapsed buildings three days after the disaster.
The quake hit at 05:58 local time on August 15 at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located 68 kilometres north-northwest of the town of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. At least 213 people have been injured and more than 12,000 homes damaged across the affected region, according to Indonesia’s national disaster agency BNPB.
Tsunami and Aftershocks
The earthquake triggered tsunamis that reached heights of up to 1.61 metres along parts of the Flores coastline, compounding the destruction caused by the initial shaking. More than 1,576 aftershocks have been recorded since the main event, with the largest measuring magnitude 6.1. Sixteen aftershocks exceeded magnitude 5.0, and 46 were strong enough to be felt by residents already shaken by the initial disaster.
The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.7 at a depth of 10 kilometres, caused by thrust faulting along the Flores back-arc thrust fault. Geologists had previously assessed this particular segment of the fault as capable of generating a maximum magnitude of 7.8 to 7.9, meaning the August 15 event came close to the upper limit of what scientists considered possible.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | Mw 7.7 |
| Depth | 10 km |
| Deaths (confirmed) | 68+ |
| Injuries | 213+ |
| Aftershocks recorded | 1,576+ |
| Max tsunami height | 1.61 m |
Displacement Crisis
More than 40,000 survivors have been left sheltering in temporary tents and evacuation centres across Flores island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Hospital patients in the towns of Ende and Maumere were evacuated as buildings sustained significant structural damage. The affected areas span Flores, Sumbawa and parts of South Sulawesi province.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the collision of tectonic plates makes the archipelago one of the most seismically active regions on Earth. The Flores area in particular has a long history of destructive earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.9 event in 1992 that killed more than 2,500 people.
The BMKG, Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency, has warned that the high rate of aftershocks is expected to continue for the next two to three weeks before gradually decaying. Residents in affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant and avoid damaged structures.
Sources: USGS; AP; BBC; Wikipedia; BNPB Indonesia
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