East Nusa Tenggara Earthquake: Death Toll Rises as Thousands Remain Displaced
The humanitarian impact of the powerful earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, on 15 August continues to deepen, with the latest official figures showing 105 people have died, 1,678 have been injured, and 179,037 remain displaced.
The magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck at 05:58 local time (WITA), with its epicentre offshore near Nagekeo on the island of Flores. The earthquake was initially considered capable of generating a tsunami, prompting residents in coastal areas to move to safer ground.
According to the latest update from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), presented during a government meeting on Wednesday, 26 August, the disaster has affected seven districts across Flores: West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende and Sikka. The agency also reported that 81,436 homes have been damaged.
The latest figures represent another increase in the death and injury toll. On Tuesday, authorities reported 103 fatalities and 1,666 injuries. At that point, more than 185,000 people were recorded as displaced, either staying at organised evacuation sites or sheltering independently. Authorities have said displacement figures can fluctuate as conditions change and residents move between shelters and their communities.
The human cost has been felt particularly heavily among older people. Of the 103 fatalities recorded on Tuesday, BNPB said 45% were older people, 37% adults and 12% children and teenagers, with infants and toddlers accounting for the remainder. Manggarai and East Manggarai recorded the highest numbers of deaths.
Aftershocks have added to anxiety among survivors and contributed to residents' reluctance to return home. Authorities say concerns about the safety of damaged buildings have been one of the factors keeping large numbers of people away from their homes.
Emergency assistance continues to reach affected areas, with government agencies, the military, police, humanitarian organisations and other groups distributing food and essential supplies and providing health and other basic services. The government says attention is now also turning to rehabilitation and reconstruction so that affected communities can eventually return to safe, normal lives.
For thousands of families across Flores, however, recovery will take time. Beyond the statistics are families grieving loved ones, people recovering from injuries, children whose daily lives have been disrupted, and communities facing the difficult task of rebuilding homes and livelihoods after one of the region's most devastating recent disasters. (*)
* Figures are based on the latest official update available on 26 August 2026 and may change as assessment and verification continue.