The epicenter was located 36 kilometers northeast of Mbay in East Nusa Tenggara province. While BMKG initially reported a depth of 15 kilometers, the US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the hypocenter at a shallower depth of 10 kilometers. Seismologists note that shallow earthquakes are generally more destructive due to the proximity of the rupture to the surface. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency confirmed the death toll of 47, with reports indicating that several structures collapsed or sustained severe damage in the affected regencies.
Strong tremors prompted residents in Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency, and surrounding areas to flee their homes in panic. Video footage from Maumere showed a building collapsing in a cloud of dust as people ran to the streets. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka, described the scene, stating that the waiting room at the Pelni port terminal had collapsed. In nearby Nagekeo regency, hundreds of people were seen evacuating, and a hospital in the Ende district moved patients outdoors to ensure safety.
BMKG issued a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, urging residents to stay away from beaches and riverbanks. Tsunami modeling indicated the potential for wave generation in these regions. However, waves of less than one meter were recorded in several areas before the warning was lifted approximately three hours after the initial quake. Wijayanto, the earthquake and tsunami director at BMKG, stated that while the warning had ended, authorities would continue to monitor sea levels.
The seismic event was linked to activity on the Flores fault, a major geological feature in the region. Indonesia is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of high seismic activity where multiple tectonic plates converge. The archipelago is home to more than 120 active volcanoes and is prone to significant seismic events. The 2004 Sumatra earthquake, which measured 9.1 and triggered a deadly tsunami, remains one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the region’s history, killing approximately 220,000 people across the Indian Ocean basin.
Authorities have advised the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. Residents are urged to stay away from damaged buildings, which may be structurally compromised and prone to further collapse during aftershocks. As of the latest updates, no other major casualties have been reported, and emergency services are continuing to assess the extent of the damage across the affected islands.
