The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on August 15, 2026, continues to affect communities across several areas. As of August 26, more than 185,000 people have been affected and displaced, while humanitarian response and recovery efforts remain ongoing.
According to the latest situation report from Dompet Dhuafa’s Disaster Management Center, the earthquake caused significant damage across Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende, Sikka, Manggarai, and East and West Manggarai. The disaster has resulted in 103 deaths and left 1,666 people injured. In addition, 77,912 houses were damaged, along with hundreds of public facilities and places of worship.
The earthquake was recorded at 5:58 a.m. WITA, with its epicenter located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Mbay, Nagekeo Regency, at a depth of 15 kilometers. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami warning, which has since been declared over. BMKG recorded 7,492 aftershocks following the main earthquake.
Essential Services Continue to Recover
Despite the scale of the disaster, access to several essential services has begun to recover. Major roads and logistics routes are now fully accessible, while electricity and telecommunications services across Flores have also returned to normal.
However, clean water access remains limited in some areas, while the distribution of humanitarian assistance and the recovery of damaged infrastructure continue.
The earthquake has affected 1,378 educational facilities, 118 health facilities, 496 offices, 402 places of worship, four traditional markets, and 1,915 public facilities. The extensive damage has created additional challenges for communities as they work to rebuild their daily lives.
Humanitarian Response Reaches Thousands
Dompet Dhuafa, through its Disaster Management Center, continues to deploy teams and humanitarian resources to affected communities. Its response includes search and rescue operations, medical services, emergency food assistance, psychosocial support, logistics distribution, and the establishment of emergency facilities.
As of the latest report, 10,006 people have benefited from Dompet Dhuafa’s humanitarian services. These include 4,367 recipients of food assistance, 1,549 beneficiaries of food logistics, 1,468 people receiving health services, and 1,575 people benefiting from emergency mosque services.
The organization has also provided education services to 129 people, psychosocial services to 522 people, baby care assistance to 50 people, and SAR and evacuation support to 153 people. In addition, 193 people have benefited from internet service facilities established in affected areas.
To support operations on the ground, Dompet Dhuafa has deployed 58 personnel, supported by two tactical vehicles, three minivans or pickup vehicles, two ambulances, four motorcycles, and three Starlink units.
Urgent Needs Remain
While humanitarian operations continue, affected communities still require essential supplies to support their immediate needs. Among the most urgent items are medicines and medical equipment, food, clean water, worship supplies, baby supplies, diapers, women’s and elderly care necessities, and blankets.
The continued availability of these supplies is essential as communities remain in the process of recovering from the earthquake and coping with damaged homes and public facilities.
As search and rescue operations, assessments, medical services, and aid distribution continue, coordinated humanitarian support remains important to ensure that assistance reaches communities most in need.
Dompet Dhuafa continues to coordinate its humanitarian response through its main post in Labuan Bajo, a supporting post in Nagekeo, and logistics and health assistance posts covering areas including Labuan Bajo, Nagekeo, Reok, Ruteng, Ronting, Maumere, Wera, and Pota.
The situation remains dynamic, with data continuing to develop as assessments and humanitarian operations progress. Continued support and collaboration are therefore needed to help affected communities meet their immediate needs and begin the longer process of recovery.
