Indonesia Earthquake: Small Tsunami Hits Bonea and Jampea After 7.7 Magnitude Quake Near Flores; Videos Surface
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia on Saturday, damaging multiple buildings and homes and triggering a tsunami warning across several provinces, with residents in coastal areas rushing to evacuate to higher ground.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia on Saturday, damaging multiple buildings and homes and triggering a tsunami warning across several provinces, with residents in coastal areas rushing to evacuate to higher ground. The US Geological Survey said the quake hit Indonesia's Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometres at 5:58 a.m. Indonesia time, with its epicentre located 68 km (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The initial tremor was followed by several aftershocks that caused further damage. Authorities reported no immediate casualties as of now, though officials had not yet released estimates of the number of damaged buildings.
Tsunami Warning Issued, Residents Told To Evacuate
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning covering parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, urging residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks.
Abdul Muhari, an official at the national disaster agency BNPB, said, "We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts, on the southern islands and across the southern region, to carry out self-evacuation immediately."Â Earthquake in Indonesia: Quake of Magnitude 7.7 Strikes East Nusa Tenggara Province; Tsunami Warning Issued (Videos).
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Off Indonesia Triggers Tsunami Warning, Sparks Rush To Higher Ground
Pasca Gempa Flores Mw 7,7 terjadi tsunami kecil di Bonea, Selayar. Meskipun tidak memicu gelombang tinggi yang merusak struktur bangunan, genangan air asin ini tetap berisiko merusak perabotan, mencemari sumber air bersih, serta menyisakan endapan lumpur dan sampah di pemukiman… pic.twitter.com/LxpBbKPvmn
— Daryono Perwira Sakti (@daryono_eq_talk) August 15, 2026
Tsunami kecil dampak gempa Flores M7,7 menerjang Jampea di Pulau Tanajampea, Sulawesi Selatan. Gelombang air laut ini dilaporkan sempat melimpas ke area pesisir dan memicu kepanikan warga pesisir. Meskipun tidak menimbulkan kerusakan, masyarakat diimbau untuk tetap waspada… pic.twitter.com/kfmmL1CaK6
— Daryono Perwira Sakti (@daryono_eq_talk) August 15, 2026
Di Labuan Bajo, pukul 06.37 waktu setempat, warga dan wisatawan bergerak melakukan evakuasi mandiri ke tempat yang lebih tinggi. Langkah ini dilakukan sebagai respons peringatan dini tsunami. Tampak kemacetan, jalan dipenuhi kendaraan yang berbondong-bondong menuju area bukit. pic.twitter.com/TLmWLnjkuI
— Daryono Perwira Sakti (@daryono_eq_talk) August 15, 2026
He told local broadcaster Kompas TV that residents should "move away from the shore, either by going more than two kilometres inland or by moving up into hilly areas more than 10 meters high."
Panic As People Flee To Higher Ground
In Labuan Bajo, residents and tourists were seen moving to higher ground from 06:37 local time as the early tsunami warning prompted mass self-evacuation. Roads were reported jammed with traffic as vehicles flocked toward hillside areas. Colombia Earthquake: 73 Killed, Many Injured as Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Quake Traps Residents Under Debris.
Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka, a regency within East Nusa Tenggara province, said the strong shaking damaged several buildings and sent panicked residents rushing to higher ground. "Many buildings here were damaged ... I saw that the waiting room at the Pelni port terminal in Maumere had collapsed," she said.
According to The Associated Press, the quake was felt across much of Flores Island, with initial reports pointing to damage to homes and public facilities.
Indonesia's Vulnerability To Earthquakes
Indonesia is a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and is highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. Officials said they were closely monitoring coastal tide gauges for any changes following the quake.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2026 07:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
