Jakarta, August 17, 2026, BNN Web Staff: Indonesia was struck by another earthquake on Monday as a magnitude 5.9 tremor hit the Flores region, days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake in eastern Indonesia claimed at least 54 lives.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the latest earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometres. Its epicentre was initially located at 8.57 degrees south latitude and 121.55 degrees east longitude.
The new tremor struck as authorities continued rescue and relief operations following the powerful earthquake that hit six regencies across Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) chief Suharyanto said on Monday that the death toll from the earlier 7.7-magnitude earthquake had climbed to 54. Hundreds of injured people were receiving medical treatment as rescue teams continued searching affected areas and assessing the extent of the damage.
More than 12,000 people had been displaced by Sunday, while homes and public infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Authorities also reported that aftershocks were continuing in the affected areas.
The Indonesian government has mobilised air, sea and ground transportation to reach communities in remote locations. Eleven aircraft and helicopters have been deployed to transport relief supplies and assist with evacuation operations, including on Palue Island in Sikka regency.
Health services have also been affected by the disaster. A field hospital is being prepared at Golo Dukal Stadium after Manggarai Regional Hospital was damaged in the earthquake, disrupting medical services in the area.
Preliminary BNPB figures showed that 157 houses were severely damaged, while 41 sustained moderate damage and another 148 suffered light damage. The earthquake also affected 87 educational institutions, 18 healthcare facilities, six government offices and five places of worship.
Emergency supplies are being sent to the affected regions as rescue and relief efforts continue.
A large-scale airlift operation was launched from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta, with around 50,000 aid packages weighing approximately 275 tonnes prepared for transportation to disaster-hit areas. President Prabowo Subianto monitored the initial dispatch of 10,500 packages from the airbase.
Following Monday’s earthquake, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning as a precaution. The warning was lifted at 7:30 am local time after monitoring showed no dangerous rise in sea levels along the affected coast.
The latest earthquake adds to a series of seismic events that have struck Indonesia in recent days. On Saturday, the country experienced multiple significant earthquakes.
The National Centre for Seismology reported that a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini on Saturday night. Earlier that day, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake had also been recorded.
These tremors followed the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the Flores region at around 5:58 am local time on Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre was located about 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Several aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquake, adding to the challenges faced by rescue teams and residents in the affected areas.
