Two Dead as M 7.7 Earthquake Hits NTT, BMKG Records 44 Aftershocks
Two people have been reported dead following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), this morning. Based on BMKG observations up to 08.45 Wita, a total of 44 aftershocks have been recorded in the NTT region.
Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said the earthquake also affected the El Say Port area in Sikka Regency, NTT. Berton said two people died and one person was injured in the area.
“The two fatalities consisted of one man and one woman. The casualty data is still being verified and further recorded by the team in the field,” Berton said in a written statement received by detikBali on Saturday (15/8/2026).
Based on updated data, the earthquake’s epicentre was located at sea at a depth of 15 kilometres, approximately 38 kilometres northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo. The tremors were felt strongly in several areas of NTT, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and South Sulawesi.
Meanwhile, Head of the Kupang Geophysics Station Arief Tyastama said BMKG analysis showed the earthquake’s epicentre was located at coordinates 8.41° South and 121.39° East. The earthquake was centred 30 kilometres north of Mbay, Nagekeo, NTT, at a depth of 15 km.
“The earthquake that occurred was a shallow earthquake caused by active fault activity. The source mechanism analysis shows that the earthquake had a thrust fault movement mechanism,” Arief said in his statement.
“As of 07:45 WIB, BMKG monitoring results show 44 aftershock events,” he added.
Arief urged the public to remain calm and not be influenced by unverified information. He reminded residents to check official information available through BMKG’s official channels.
Earlier, residents fled their homes en masse after the powerful earthquake struck the NTT region this morning. Residents in Nagekeo Regency, NTT, for example, evacuated to higher ground after BMKG issued a tsunami early warning.
Similarly, residents of Kampung Tengah, Labuan Bajo, ran towards Jalan Soekarno-Hatta because of its higher elevation. Several women were seen carrying bags of clothing in both hands. Other residents left the area using motorcycles and cars.
“An earthquake, then a tsunami warning,” said a resident in Labuan Bajo, panicking.
Coastal residents were also seen leaving in several pickup trucks from the direction of Jalan Pantai Pede, Labuan Bajo. The sound of vehicle horns blared through the streets of Labuan Bajo.
Several videos showing victims killed by the NTT earthquake have also circulated on social media. A number of homes, public facilities and places of worship were damaged by the powerful earthquake.