Indonesia confirms tourism areas in NTT under control after earthquake

Photo caption: Foreign tourists evacuate to safer areas at the Jayakarta Hotel after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday morning (August 15, 2026).

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Tourism Ministry and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Board (BPOLBF) reported that tourism areas and accommodation facilities in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) remained under control following an earthquake on Saturday morning.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, centered in Nagekeo, struck Flores Island at 5:58 a.m. local time on Saturday, with tremors felt across neighboring islands and as far as Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry reported that 986 tourists had been successfully evacuated from Padar Island to Labuan Bajo after the port authority lifted the suspension of maritime transport services following the earthquake.

Meanwhile, all hotel guests in Labuan Bajo were evacuated to safer locations, including Natas Parapuar and the field of the Komodo Regional General Hospital. Guests evacuated from the Meurorah Hotel to Puncak Waringin have since returned to the hotel.

Flight services at Komodo Airport have resumed on a limited basis as airport management conducts safety and technical inspections.

However, the earthquake forced the cancellation of the remaining activities of the Golo Koe Interfaith and Intercultural Festival in West Manggarai District, the ministry said.

The BPOLBF confirmed structural damage at the Jayakarta Hotel in West Manggarai, with all tourists there relocated to alternative hotels. Major damage was also reported at the Papita Mbay Hotel in Nagekeo.

Meanwhile, minor damage was reported at the Ayana, Ta'aktana Marriott, Crown, Menjaga Bay, Luwansa, Sudamala, and Meurora hotels in the region. The La Moringa and Escape Bajo restaurants in West Manggarai also reported minor damage.

The ministry confirmed that electricity and internet access had been restored at most hotels in the earthquake-affected areas.

Damage was also reported at Maumere Sikka Port, St. Paul Catholic University in Ruteng, Ruteng Regional General Hospital, and the Paroki Karot and Borong churches.

The Tourism Ministry urged tourism industry players, tourists, and residents in earthquake-affected areas to remain calm and obtain updates only from official sources.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll had reached 47 as of Saturday night, with fatalities recorded in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, Ngada, and Ende.

BNPB is mobilizing 275 tons of relief supplies after the disaster damaged 346 homes and 116 public facilities.