NTT Earthquake Displaced Persons Reach 5,000

The number of displaced persons following the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has reached 5,000. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded a death toll of 47 people. Data updated on Sunday (16/8/2026) morning identified Sikka Regency as the area with the highest number of displaced persons.

Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre Berton Panjaitan said that 3,356 residents were forced to evacuate in Sikka. Of these, 1,356 people are concentrated at the Samador Sports Hall. The remaining approximately 2,000 people are sheltering independently across 10 locations. In Manggarai Regency, the number of displaced persons reached 2,078.

“Hundreds of other displaced persons are also staying in Nagekeo, totalling 500 people,” Berton said through a BNPB press release received in Jakarta on Sunday (16/8/2026) morning.

In addition to NTT, the earthquake was also felt in Bima and the Selayar Islands, prompting a number of residents to evacuate. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake claimed 47 lives.

BNPB recorded the highest death toll in Manggarai Regency with 23 fatalities. In East Manggarai Regency, the death toll stood at 17 people. In Sikka, four residents died, and in West Manggarai one fatality was recorded. “Likewise in Ende and Nagekeo, each recorded one fatality,” Berton said. The number of injured was recorded at 101 people with varying degrees of severity.

Besides causing deaths, the earthquake that struck on Saturday (15/8/2026) morning also destroyed a number of buildings and infrastructure. BNPB recorded 941 houses as severely damaged, 126 moderately damaged, and 317 lightly damaged. “Public facilities also suffered severe damage, including 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities, and 38 government offices,” Berton said.

At present, the NTT Provincial Government has declared a 14-day state of emergency. Berton said that residents affected by the earthquake still require assistance while in evacuation shelters. In Manggarai, local communities are still struggling to obtain temporary emergency tents. Residents also need food aid, medicines, blankets, camp beds, clean water, and generators.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake shook eastern Indonesia on Saturday (15/8/2026) morning. The epicentre was at a depth of 15 kilometres, approximately 38 kilometres east of Mbay Sea in Nagekeo Regency. The tremors were felt for about one minute in the area and in Sikka, West Manggarai, and Bima City.

The earthquake was also felt in parts of South Sulawesi, including Jeneponto, the Selayar Islands, and Maros. The earthquake briefly triggered a tsunami early warning. However, the tsunami warning was lifted at 07:31 local time.