A magnitude 7.7 earthquake off the northern coast of Flores generated waves almost a metre high. Indonesia’s meteorological and geophysical agency issued a tsunami warning for three provinces, but lifted it two and a half hours later. Bali was not in the warning area: the tremors in Denpasar and Badung were weak, and there was no damage.
The earthquake struck at 05:58 Bali time. The epicentre was at sea, 30 kilometres off the coast of Flores, at a depth of 15 kilometres. The island’s northern coast was hit hardest: residents ran out of their homes, and buildings were damaged. Instruments recorded more than fifty aftershocks in the first few hours.
The highest wave, measuring 0.94 metres, reached Ende Regency. The threat had passed by morning, but the epicentre was on a fault that stretches for about 800 kilometres north of Bali, north of Lombok and onwards to the north of Flores. Seismologists believe it is capable of producing an earthquake with a magnitude close to eight; in 1992, the same area was struck by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that caused severe damage.
In Labuan Bajo, where boats depart for Komodo National Park, the water rose by roughly a third of a metre. The ceiling collapsed in the lobby of the Jayakarta Hotel and cracks appeared in the walls, while guests ran outside directly from their rooms. Churches, a hospital and several schools in the town sustained minor damage.
According to preliminary data from the provincial authorities, five people were killed and four injured, and the figures are still being verified. Around two thousand residents of Nagekeo Regency left their homes on their own. Homes, the port in Maumere, a bank building and a university building in Ruteng were damaged on Flores, while landslides blocked the Trans-Flores road between Ende and Bajawa.
The airport in Ruteng suspended flights while inspections were carried out: roofing panels were torn from the terminal and cracks appeared in the walls, but the runway is intact. A reopening date will be announced after the inspection. The airport in Maumere was already operating intermittently because of eruptions of Mount Lewotobi, even before the earthquake.
Trips to Komodo and Padar islands had already been suspended in early August because of high waves. The Labuan Bajo port authorities did not announce any new restrictions after the earthquake. Conditions for sea departures can change during the day, so check with your operator.
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