Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes East Nusa Tenggara, Two Fatalities Reported
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 shook Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Saturday 15 August at 04:58:24 WIB. Based on updated information, the epicentre was located at sea at a depth of 15 kilometres, approximately 38 kilometres northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo Regency.
The earthquake was felt strongly in several areas of NTT and as far as South Sulawesi. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), through its Operations Control Centre and all Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD) that felt the impact of the tremor, continues to monitor and coordinate with relevant parties to ascertain the condition of the public and the resulting impact.
Based on a preliminary report from the Sikka Military District Command, the earthquake affected the El Say Port area in Sikka Regency. The incident resulted in two people being killed and one person injured. The two fatalities consisted of one male and one female. Victim data is still being verified and further recorded by teams on the ground.
The Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said that a joint team comprising Basarnas, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Indonesian National Police is still carrying out evacuation at the scene. BNPB together with the Sikka Regency BPBD continue to coordinate with relevant parties to handle the victims and ensure the condition of communities around the affected area.
“In Nagekeo Regency, the earthquake was felt very strongly for approximately one minute. Most residents felt the tremor and rushed out of their homes,” said Berton in a written statement on Saturday 15 August 2026.
The Nagekeo Regency BPBD is coordinating with relevant agencies following a tsunami early warning and is evacuating communities in coastal areas.
Similar conditions were reported in Sikka Regency and West Manggarai Regency. Residents felt the earthquake very strongly for approximately one minute and most people left their homes. The BPBD in both regions are coordinating with relevant parties and directing the evacuation of communities in coastal areas.
The earthquake was also felt in Bima City, West Nusa Tenggara, as well as several areas in South Sulawesi, including Jeneponto Regency, Selayar Islands Regency, and Maros Regency. Residents in some of these areas also felt the tremor and some rushed out of their homes.