A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook eastern Indonesia in the\nearly hours of Saturday (15\/8\/2026). The disaster, accompanied by dozens\nof aftershocks, claimed at least 20 lives, according to Basarnas.<\/p>\n
Small tsunami waves of less than 1 metre were detected at several\npoints before the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)\neventually lifted the tsunami early warning around three hours after the\nmain tremor.<\/p>\n
A joint SAR team in the port area of Maumere, Sikka Regency, East\nNusa Tenggara (NTT), reported that evacuation efforts are still ongoing.\nHead of Basarnas Maumere, Fathur Rahman, said that so far 20 people have\nbeen found dead, six injured, and two residents remain buried under\nrubble.<\/p>\n
Access to the nearest point to the earthquake epicentre in Nagekeo\nRegency remains completely paralysed. Land routes are blocked by\nlandslide material, while communication signals are cut off. Rescue\nteams are now racing against time trying to reach the location by sea\nusing ferries.<\/p>\n
Latest data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB)\nrecorded that at least 2,000 residents of Nagekeo have been evacuated. A\nnumber of houses, warehouses, and public facilities were reported to be\nseverely damaged, accompanied by total power outages and traffic\ncongestion.<\/p>\n
NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena confirmed that most of the\nvictims died after being struck by building debris while sleeping\nsoundly.<\/p>\n
The powerful shaking, lasting approximately one minute, was felt as\nfar as West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and South Sulawesi. In Ende Regency, a\nhospital was forced to evacuate all patients to an open area to\nanticipate aftershocks.<\/p>\n
BMKG recorded that the shallow earthquake, with a depth of 15 km,\noccurred at 04.58 WIB. Historical records show that this region was hit\nby a deadly M 7.5 earthquake in 1992.<\/p>\n
Although it triggered danger alarms in surrounding areas, the\nAustralian Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that the event had no impact\non Australian mainland or territories.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is indeed prone to\nhigh seismic activity due to the collision of the world\u2019s active\ntectonic plates.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/update-on-m-7-7-ntt-earthquake-20-dead-6-injured-1786780252", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }