Death toll from NTT earthquake reaches 38, search for trapped victims still ongoing
NTT Governor Melki Laka Lena stated that residents are still believed to be trapped under building rubble after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook NTT on Saturday (15/8/2026) at 05.58 WITA. A joint team from Basarnas, TNI, Polri, and related agencies continues to carry out search and rescue operations.
BNPB Head Letjen TNI Suharyanto said reports of trapped residents are dynamic, estimated to be less than 10 people. As of 15.00 WIB, BNPB recorded 38 people dead, two seriously injured, 11 lightly injured, and around 2,000 residents self-evacuating. Fatalities are spread across Sikka (3), Manggarai (16), East Manggarai (17), Ende (1), and West Manggarai (1).
Several roads are blocked by landslides after the quake, but the Ministry of Public Works has deployed heavy equipment to clear debris. The NTT Provincial Government is processing the establishment of provincial-level regional disaster status, while national disaster status is under the authority of the central government.
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