Death toll from M7 earthquake in NTT rises to 38

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has recorded 38 deaths caused by the magnitude 7 earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). BNPB also recorded two people with serious injuries and 11 with minor injuries.

“So the first affected victims are fatalities; as of 3 p.m. this afternoon, 38 people have been recorded as having died,” said BNPB Head Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto during a press conference broadcast on BNPB’s YouTube channel on Saturday (15/8/2026).

“Then two people with serious injuries, 11 with minor injuries, and approximately 2,000 people have evacuated independently,” he continued.

Suharyanto said data collection on the damage caused by the earthquake is still ongoing. Several roads have been reported blocked due to landslides.

“In terms of material damage, several roads have experienced landslides and are blocked; the detailed data will be presented in more detail by the Ministry of Public Works,” he said.

He said a number of houses have also suffered damage. Suharyanto added that several community health centres (puskesmas) were also damaged by the earthquake.

“Several community houses are certainly still being recorded, and the data continues to grow. As of today, there are dozens of houses with heavy, moderate and light damage,” he said.

“Earlier, the Minister of Health also informed us that many puskesmas were damaged, and only one hospital was damaged, namely in Maumere,” he added.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that an earthquake occurred in Mbay, Nagekeo, with a magnitude of 7.7. The earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami wave warning.

“#Earthquake Mag:7.7, 15-Aug-2026 04:58:24WIB, Location:8.35S, 121.37E (36 km Northeast of MBAY-NAGEKEO-NTT), Depth:10 Km,” BMKG wrote on its X account.

BMKG later updated the data on the M 7.7 earthquake in Nagekeo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, to M 7. The tsunami early warning has now ended.