Earthquake Death Toll in NTT Reaches 68
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has recorded that the death toll from the M 7.7 earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on Saturday (15/8/2026) reached 68 people as of Monday (17/8/2026) afternoon. In addition to the fatalities, the number of injured has also reached hundreds.
Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said that a total of 68 people have so far been reported dead as a result of the earthquake. The government has expressed its condolences over the deaths of residents caused by the earthquake in NTT.
“The data we have obtained so far is 68 people, once again 68 people, who have died,” he said during an online press conference on Monday at 16.00 WIB.
The dozens of fatalities are spread across seven regencies in NTT. The breakdown is 26 deaths in Manggarai Regency, 24 in East Manggarai Regency, eight in Nagekeo Regency, four in Sikka Regency, and two each in Ende Regency, West Manggarai Regency, and Ngada Regency.
As for the injured, Berton said the total stands at 213 people. He said his agency continues to monitor developments in the number of dead and injured. BNPB has assured that it will continue to update information regarding the impact of the disaster.
“We always hope and pray that there will be no further increase in the number of dead or injured,” he said.
Regarding conditions on the ground, BNPB has recorded 1,576 aftershocks. The strongest aftershock recorded had a magnitude of 6.2, which occurred once, and three aftershocks were also felt by the public. Meanwhile, aftershocks that were not felt by the public have exceeded 1,500 since Saturday.
He stated that teams from Basarnas remain on standby in the seven regencies affected by the NTT earthquake. However, based on the latest reports, there are no longer any reports of missing residents in the affected areas.
“Nevertheless, even though there are no reports, the Basarnas team, the joint Basarnas team, continues to carry out search efforts and continues to deploy personnel optimally in the affected areas,” said Berton.
He added that the Ministry of Health has also sent two field hospital units to Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, and Nagekeo Regency. It is hoped that these hospitals can serve victims affected by the earthquake. This is because many hospitals and community health centres have been affected by the disaster.
According to Berton, the Ministry of Health has also deployed two Health Crisis Management teams. These teams have been dispatched to Sikka Regency and Ende Regency respectively. The teams will be tasked with overseeing field coordination, particularly for the health sector.
In addition, the Ministry of Health has also sent two Emergency Medical Team units. The first team has been deployed to handle the situation in Ende, Nagekeo, and West Manggarai. The second team is focused on Sikka Regency.
“The Ministry of Health has also activated the Health Emergency Operation Centre, where this health crisis operation is located in nine strategic locations and in eight regency/city-level points that are currently affected,” he said.
Furthermore, the TNI and Polri, together with joint teams from ministries and agencies, are also working optimally in the affected areas. According to BNPB data, 1,467 joint personnel from the TNI, Polri, and other agencies continue to work to address the situation on the ground.
Berton said the government has also provided support in the form of defence equipment and air assets totalling 10 units. The presence of this equipment is intended to reach difficult locations and accelerate the distribution of logistics. Five units have been placed in Labuan Bajo and five others in Maumere.
“We very much hope that the handling of the NTT earthquake can be resolved soon,” said Berton.