BMKG Issues Tsunami Early Warning After M7.7 Earthquake in Nagekeo, NTT

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a level two tsunami early warning for several coastal areas in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook Mbay Village, Nagekeo Regency, on Saturday at 05:58 local time.

Head of the Kupang Geophysics Station, Arief Tyastama, stated that the earthquake’s epicentre was located at coordinates 8.43 degrees south latitude and 121.39 degrees east longitude. The location is approximately 30 kilometres offshore from Mbay-Nagekeo at a depth of 15 kilometres.

As of 07:03 local time, BMKG had issued a Tsunami Early Warning (PD) level two. The warning covers areas in NTT, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, and Southeast Sulawesi. In NTT, the alert status applies to the northern parts of Manggarai, Ngada, West Manggarai, Ende, and Sikka regencies. In South Sulawesi, the alert covers Selayar, Jeneponto, and Bantaeng.

BMKG had earlier issued a level one tsunami early warning after the initial earthquake was recorded at magnitude 7.0. At that time, the northern part of Ngada was placed on advisory status with an estimated tsunami arrival time of around 05:01 Western Indonesian Time. Aftershocks continued to be felt until 07:02 local time, with tremors experienced across the entire island of Flores, parts of Sumba Island, Adonara, and Solor.