Damage from M7.7 Earthquake in NTT Classified as Moderate to Severe

The Director of Engineering Seismology, Potential Geophysics and Timekeeping at BMKG, Teguh Rahayu, said the level of damage caused by the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with a magnitude of 7.7 falls into the moderate to severe category.

“Based on monitoring by the BMKG station coordinator in Kupang, NTT, who has coordinated with the local BPBD, there are preliminary reports of damage in the moderate to severe category,” said Teguh during an online press conference on Saturday (15/8).

Several sections of simple house walls collapsed in the Maumere area, West Manggarai and also Labuan Bajo at around IV-V Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI). Moderate damage was then recorded at Maumere Port and around Jayakarta Bajo at approximately VI-VII MMI.

“BMKG will conduct a survey of the affected locations starting today from the Kirtisika station in Kupang. If there are any updates or the latest news, we will convey them immediately.”

At the same occasion, BMKG Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis Wijayanto explained that the earthquake in NTT that occurred this morning was caused by the Flores back-arc thrust fault.

“Behind the Flores arc there is potential for earthquakes with a maximum of M7.8-7.9, and this morning an event of around M7.7 occurred,” he said.

He explained that based on historical records, a similar earthquake occurred in 1992 with a magnitude of 7.5. The damage was very extensive at that time.

“So this has occurred again after almost 30 years. We will continue to monitor aftershock activity. BMKG will continue to monitor aftershock activity and will keep informing the public,” Wijayanto stressed.

BMKG had previously ended the tsunami early warning. However, he confirmed that the agency will continue to monitor sea level activity captured at technical stations in the region.