Indonesia earthquake toll reaches 70 dead, 132 injured in NTT

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province has climbed to 70, with 132 individuals sustaining injuries. The figures were reported by Basarnas, Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, during a press conference on Tuesday.

According to Basarnas Operations Director First Admiral TNI Bramantyo, the total number of casualties stands at 202, comprising 70 fatalities and 132 injured, of which 40 are severe and 92 are minor. These figures are based on reports from SAR teams as of Monday evening. The focus has now shifted to recovery and cleanup operations, with SAR teams concentrating on searching for missing persons and assisting the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in its rehabilitation efforts.

The districts of Manggarai and Manggarai Timur reported the highest number of fatalities, with 27 and 25 deaths respectively. Other affected areas include Nagekeo (8 deaths), Sikka (4 deaths), Ngada (2 deaths), Manggarai Barat (2 deaths), and Ende (2 deaths). The BNPB also reported a significant number of injured individuals, with data from the Ministry of Health indicating 1,182 people received medical attention.

Furthermore, the earthquake has led to the displacement of over 40,000 people across the region. The BNPB reported 40,040 refugees, with the largest concentrations in Manggarai Timur (approximately 15,465 people) and Manggarai (6,847 people). Officials caution that this figure reflects the psychological impact and fear among residents, prompting them to leave their homes. The NTT provincial government has declared a 14-day state of emergency for the earthquake disaster, effective from August 15 to August 28, 2026.