At least 47 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The quake triggered dozens of aftershocks and prompted approximately 2,000 people to flee to safer ground. Rescue teams are struggling to reach the region closest to the epicentre due to landslides blocking roads and disrupted communications. Preliminary data from BNPB shows that 157 homes were heavily damaged, with many other buildings and infrastructure also affected.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, causing widespread destruction and chaos in the area. The quake hit Flores Island on Saturday morning, killing at least 73 people, injuring over 900, and displacing nearly 60,000 others. The death toll has been rising steadily as rescue efforts continue. Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, with buildings collapsing onto parked cars and trees and boulders blocking roads.
In the aftermath of the quake, aid is still struggling to reach some areas, leaving many residents waiting for basic necessities like food, medicine, and clean water. Despite the challenges, a remarkable rescue effort has resulted in the safe evacuation of an 84-year-old woman who was buried under the collapsed walls of her home for three days.
The Indonesian government has declared a state of emergency in the affected region and is working to provide relief to those in need. The quake has also highlighted the vulnerability of Indonesia, which lies in the "ring of fire," an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Written for “Indonesia Earthquake Crisis” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
At least 47 people killed following 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia
More than a dozen people are injured and others are likely still trapped in buildings
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others → kill → buildings
At least 47 people were killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake and dozens of aftershocks struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in its latest statement, and approximately 2,000 people had fled to safer ground.
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people → kill → ground
Rescue teams have yet to reach Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicentre, after landslides blocked roads and disrupted communications, officials said.
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officials → have → communications
A tsunami warning was lifted about three hours after the quake.
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warning → lift → quake
"The quake was massive; the shock was so strong," said Nona, a 51-year-old resident of Talibura, a village in East Nusa Tenggara.
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Nona → say → Tenggara
"There were 13 of us inside the house and we all ran to save ourselves.
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we → be → ourselves
"
Earlier, rescuers in the port town of Maumere found 20 dead, six injured and two trapped under the rubble, said Fathur Rahman, head of the city's rescue agency.
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Rahman → find → agency
Suharyanto, the head of BNPB, said residents remain trapped in several buildings in earthquake-affected areas and there are reports of landslides blocking several roads.
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residents → say → roads
Teams haven't yet reached region in quake's epicentre
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Teams → reach → epicentre
Teams have yet to reach Nagekeo, the region closest to the epicentre, and communications signals there had been affected, Fathur told Reuters.
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Fathur → have → Reuters
Attempts to reach Nagekeo by car were blocked by landslides, while another team was attempting to go by ferry, he said.
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he → reach → ferry
About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and damage was reported to a number of houses, warehouses and government facilities, the BNPB said.
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BNPB → evacuate → houses
Authorities also reported traffic congestion and power outages affecting parts of the regency, it said.
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it → report → regency
The governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, told a press conference at least five people died from collapsing rubble as they slept.
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they → tell → rubble
Preliminary BNPB data showed 157 homes were heavily damaged, 41 moderately damaged and 148 lightly damaged.
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148 → show → ?
Damage was also reported at 87 schools, 18 health facilities, five places of worship and six office buildings, along with other infrastructure.
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Damage → report → infrastructure
Parts of a building collapsed into dust and rubble as people screamed and ran in the street, a video on Facebook, verified by Reuters as being at a port in Maumere, showed.
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video → collapse → Maumere
Siti Sulfia Bira, 37, who lives with her family near the port in Maumere, said she rushed to higher ground when the tremors started.
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tremors → live → ground
"At the moment we don't dare to go home just yet because the situation isn't stable.
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situation → dare → moment
We still worry that there might be more tremors coming," she told Reuters.
uncertain
she → worry → Reuters
Strong shaking was felt across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and parts of South Sulawesi, and residents in several areas reported shaking lasting about one minute, the BNPB said in a statement.
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BNPB → feel → statement
"Most of the people felt the shock and scattered out of their homes," it said.
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it → feel → homes
Indonesia straddles the "Pacific Ring of Fire," a seismically active zone where different plates on the Earth’s crust meet, creating a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.
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plates → straddle → earthquakes
