Indonesia Earthquake Live News: A powerful earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia before dawn on Saturday, turning a quiet morning across Flores into a desperate search for survivors. The 7.7-magnitude quick damage homes and public buildings, pushed thousands of residents towards safer ground and briefly triggered a tsunami warning before authorities lifted it.
The latest rescue updates have sharply raised the reported death toll. At least 20 people have died, six people suffered injuries, and two remain trapped under rubble in Maumere, according to the city’s rescue agency. Rescue teams are still trying to reach Nagekeo, the area closest to the epicentre, where landslides and disrupted communications have blocked road access.
Indonesia Earthquake Today: 20 Killed as Rescue Teams Search Rubble
Rescuers recovered 20 bodies in and around Maumere, the main town of Sikka Regency on Flores Island, according to Fathur Rahman, head of the local rescue agency. Teams also found six injured people and two others trapped beneath debris.
Authorities have not yet completed their assessment because rescue workers still cannot reach some of the worst-hit locations. Fathur said landslides blocked attempts to reach Nagekeo by road, while another team tried to reach the area by ferry.
The rising casualty count reflects the difficulty emergency teams face in reaching remote communities after the earthquake.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Earthquake Today in Indonesia Magnitude and Epicentre
Indonesia’s geophysics agency BMKG recorded the main earthquake at magnitude 7.7, with a depth of 15 kilometres. It placed the epicentre about 30 kilometres northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara.
The US Geological Survey placed the earthquake about 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende. The shallow depth increased the intensity of the shaking across nearby communities.
The earthquake struck at around 4:58 a.m. local time, according to BMKG.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Flores Earthquake Leaves Buildings Damaged
Strong ground movement damaged houses, warehouses and government facilities across affected parts of Flores.
The BNPB said around 2,000 people in Nagekeo Regency evacuated as a precaution. Authorities also reported power cuts, traffic disruption and damage to public infrastructure.
In Maumere and nearby communities, residents rushed out of buildings as the shaking began. Hospitals also moved patients, beds and medical equipment outside buildings as a precaution after structures suffered damage.
Indonesia Earthquake Today: Tsunami Warning Lifted
Authorities issued a tsunami warning shortly after the offshore earthquake and told residents in vulnerable coastal areas to move to higher ground.
The warning ended roughly three hours later after authorities determined that the continuing tsunami threat had passed. However, monitoring stations recorded small tsunami waves in several locations.
BMKG reported a wave of 0.94 metres at Maurole in Ende, along with smaller waves at Labuan Bajo, Sikka, Florestimur, Dompu and other locations.
BMKG later declared the tsunami warning over.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Thousands Evacuate From Nagekeo and Coastal Areas
The earthquake forced communities near the epicentre to evacuate.
Around 2,000 residents of Nagekeo left their homes as a precaution following the tsunami warning and strong aftershocks. Residents in other parts of Flores also moved towards higher ground as authorities assessed the threat.
The evacuations continued even after the warning ended because damaged buildings and repeated aftershocks posed additional risks.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Multiple Earthquakes Shake Flores Region
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake came during a period of intense seismic activity around the Flores Sea.
India’s National Centre for Seismology reported an earlier 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia at a depth of 49 kilometres.
“EQ of M: 7.4, On: 15/08/2026 03:28:24 IST, Lat: 8.557 S, Long: 121.181 E, Depth: 49 Km, Location: Indonesia,” the NCS said in a post on X.
The NCS later recorded a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Flores Sea at a depth of 63 kilometres.
“EQ of M: 6.3, On: 15/08/2026 03:43:55 IST, Lat: 8.298 S, Long: 120.164 E, Depth: 63 Km, Location: Flores Sea,” it said in another post.
A third 6.0-magnitude earthquake followed at a depth of 42 kilometres.
“EQ of M: 6.0, On: 15/08/2026 03:58:41 IST, Lat: 8.494 S, Long: 121.601 E, Depth: 42 Km, Location: Flores Sea,” the NCS posted on X.
The sequence added to the danger for residents living near already damaged structures.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Rescue Operations Face Landslides and Communication Problems
Rescue workers have faced major logistical challenges in reaching areas close to the epicentre.
Fathur Rahman said teams could not reach Nagekeo by road because landslides had blocked the route. Emergency officials also reported disrupted communications in the area, making it harder to determine the full extent of the damage.
Another rescue team attempted to reach the affected area by ferry as authorities expanded search and relief operations.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Why Indonesia Faces Frequent Earthquakes
Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and generate frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The country’s location makes strong earthquakes a recurring threat, particularly for communities living near active fault zones and offshore seismic areas.
Flores has experienced catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis before. A 1992 earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed around 2,500 people on the island.
Indonesia Earthquake Live News: Why Shallow Earthquakes Can Cause Greater Damage
The latest earthquake struck relatively close to the Earth’s surface, which increased the strength of the shaking felt by nearby communities.
Shallow earthquakes can transfer strong seismic energy to the surface over a shorter distance. That can increase structural damage, particularly where buildings cannot withstand powerful ground movement.
In Flores, the combination of shallow shaking, damaged structures, aftershocks and difficult terrain has complicated rescue operations.
Indonesia Earthquake Today: Latest Update
The immediate tsunami threat has ended, but the emergency response remains active after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
The latest report puts the death toll at 20, with six injured and two people still trapped under rubble in Maumere. Rescue teams continue to search damaged buildings while authorities work to reach Nagekeo, where landslides and communication failures have slowed the response.
The situation remains fluid, and casualty and damage figures could change as rescuers reach more isolated communities.
Stay tuned for the latest Indonesia earthquake updates, including the death toll, rescue operations, aftershocks, tsunami status, evacuation updates, epicentre details and damage reports from Flores.
