NTT Earthquake Update: 38 Dead, 40 Injured, and 1 Still Buried

The death toll from the earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) has risen to 38 people. A further 40 people have been injured and one person remains buried. The victims are spread across various areas.

“To date, the joint SAR team has evacuated 79 people affected by the earthquake. Based on preliminary data collection, 38 people have died, 40 have been injured, and one person is still reported buried,” said the Head of the Maumere SAR Office, Fathur Rahman, in a press release on Saturday afternoon (15/8/2026).

Fathur said the joint SAR team continues to carry out search and rescue operations in a number of areas affected by the earthquake. All personnel and available resources have been deployed to accelerate the search and rescue process in the affected areas.

“The Maumere SAR Office has deployed all personnel to the area that is the epicentre of the earthquake in Nagekeo. We have also mobilised the KN SAR Puntadewa to optimise SAR operations. Together with SAR resources across Flores, we are working to carry out rescues quickly, precisely, and safely,” Fathur explained.

Fathur said that victim data collection is still ongoing and is being coordinated with the local regional disaster management agency (BPBD). Meanwhile, the joint SAR team continues to search for and assist residents in need of help.

A total of 281 personnel have been deployed in the operation. The personnel come from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Harbourmaster’s Office (KSOP), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), BPBD, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), local government, and other agencies. “They have been stationed at a number of affected points to accelerate the search, rescue, and evacuation of victims,” Fathur said.

SAR operations are still ongoing. The joint SAR team is prioritising the search for the victim who is still buried as well as the evacuation of affected residents to safe locations.