Flores earthquake activity continues with thousands of aftershocks

Following a massive M7.7 earthquake in Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on August 15, 2026, thousands of aftershocks have been recorded. As of August 22, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported over 5,000 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from M1.1 to M6.2. Recent tremors in the Flores region, including a M5.1 and M5.2 earthquake, have been attributed to the Flores Back-Arc Thrust and are not expected to trigger tsunamis.

The seismic activity has caused significant damage to infrastructure in NTT. Reports from the Ministry of Transportation indicate that facilities such as the Laurentius Say Port, Reo Port, and Komodo Airport have sustained damage, including collapsed docks and damaged terminals. BMKG is currently conducting technical surveys, including macroseismic and microseismic assessments, to strengthen disaster mitigation and support recovery efforts in affected areas like Manggarai and Nagekeo.

Separately, a M5.8 earthquake struck the Pandeglang region in Banten on August 22. This shallow earthquake, caused by subduction activity, was felt in several districts but did not pose a tsunami threat.