Guests Recount Harrowing Escape as Magnitude 7 Earthquake Damages Hotel Jayakarta in Labuan Bajo

A number of buildings were damaged by the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday (15/8). One of the damaged buildings was Hotel Jayakarta in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT.

Several guests recounted the moments the earthquake struck and triggered panic. Hotel guests immediately ran out of the building carrying whatever belongings they could.

A guest named Kadek said the shaking was very strong.

“The sound was very loud, the building shook violently. I thought someone was knocking on the door, but it turned out to be an earthquake,” Kadek said when met outside the hotel several hours after the earthquake struck.

Together with his colleague Jessie, Kadek said he went down to the lower floor using the emergency stairs. While on the emergency stairs, he said he saw debris from the hotel ruins.

After stopping briefly because there were still tremors, Kadek and Jessie managed to reach the ground floor.

“The walls began to collapse, the rumbling sound grew louder. We did not have time to bring our phones, did not wear sandals, and immediately ran down slowly together with other guests assisted by hotel staff,” Jessie said.

They estimated the earthquake shook for about five minutes. Aftershocks then occurred several times.

As of now, the West Manggarai Regency Government has not released official data on the overall damage caused by the earthquake.