NTT Tsunami Warning Ends, BNPB Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has urged the public to remain calm and vigilant after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake shook the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region on Saturday (15/8/2026). Although the tsunami warning has been lifted, residents are asked to temporarily stay away from coastal areas and not to enter buildings that have suffered cracks.

Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton S.P. Panjaitan, stated that public safety is the top priority in post-earthquake handling. The BNPB is striving to prevent additional casualties, whether from a tsunami, aftershocks, or other secondary hazards.

“BNPB’s current priority is to ensure public safety and, of course, to prevent additional casualties from the earthquake, tsunami, aftershocks, and secondary hazards,” Berton said during a press conference on the tsunami early warning following the M 7.7 earthquake in NTT on Saturday.

Berton said the public need not panic after the tsunami warning was ended. However, the BNPB still asks residents not to conduct activities too close to the beach until there is further information or a warning from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

“We convey through this medium that the public should remain calm. Earlier, BMKG had already announced that the tsunami warning was revoked, but we urge residents to still stay away from the beach for now before there is truly another warning from BMKG,” Berton stated.

In addition to coastal areas, he continued, the BNPB is also asking the public not to enter buildings that have been damaged or cracked by the earthquake. This measure is considered important to anticipate risks should an aftershock occur.

“And we also convey an appeal for the public not to enter buildings yet, especially buildings that are already cracked, because this is potentially dangerous when there is an aftershock,” Berton said.

According to him, the BNPB continues to monitor and integrate information with the BMKG, Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), local governments, and other relevant elements. This coordination is carried out to obtain an accurate picture of the earthquake’s impact, particularly through verification and rapid assessment processes in the field.

“BNPB continues to monitor and integrate information with BMKG, BPBD, local governments, and related elements to get a picture of the impact, especially verification,” Berton added.

Berton added that rapid assessments have been conducted to collect data on the number of victims, damage, and the condition of health facilities and other buildings. The BNPB will convey these developments after obtaining verified information from the affected areas.

“To date, rapid assessments have been carried out so that the number of victims, damage, and the condition of health facilities and other buildings will be conveyed once we receive information from the ground level,” Berton said.