BMKG Says It Will Take Decades for Another M 7.7 Earthquake to Strike NTT

Head of BMKG Teuku Faisal Fathani has responded to public concerns about the potential for a larger earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Teuku confirmed that it will take a long time for an earthquake as strong as magnitude (M) 7.7 to strike the region again.

“It should be noted that it will take up to decades for the Flores back-arc thrust fault to accumulate energy and produce an earthquake as large as the one that occurred recently,” Teuku told reporters at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

Teuku explained that over the coming decades, the potential for earthquakes of greater or lesser strength does remain in NTT. However, he stressed that this will not happen in the near future.

“It could be larger or smaller, so it does require a long period of time,” he said.

In addition, Teuku provided an update on aftershock data as of 17.00 WIB. His agency has recorded 3,055 aftershocks, with the largest measuring M 6.2.

“The number of aftershocks up to 17.00 WIB this afternoon, 19 August 2026, was recorded at 3,055. The largest aftershock was magnitude 6.2 and the smallest was M 1.1,” Teuku explained.

“The number of earthquakes felt by the public was 88. Regarding the decay process, because the main earthquake was quite large, namely M 7.7, the decline in earthquake activity will take approximately 3 to 4 weeks,” he continued.