Flores experiences over 15,000 aftershocks following M7.7 earthquake

Nearly one month after a massive M7.7 earthquake struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on August 15, 2026, seismic activity continues. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has recorded between 14,993 and 15,156 aftershocks as of mid-September 2026.

Among these thousands of tremors, the largest aftershock reached a magnitude of 6.2, while the smallest was recorded at 0.9. BMKG reported that 38 aftershocks had a magnitude exceeding 5.0, and residents have directly felt the vibrations from 187 of these events.

Wijayanto, Director of Earthquake and Tsunami at BMKG, stated that these are shallow earthquakes caused by the Flores Back-Arc Thrust, characterized by a thrust fault mechanism. Authorities have advised the public to remain calm, avoid damaged or cracked buildings to ensure safety, and disregard unverified information.