At least 38 dead in eastern Indonesia earthquake of magnitude 7.7

Natural disastersMany reportedly buried as landslides hamper access to affected communitiesPeople evacuate from a building at Jayakarta hotel following an earthquake of magnitude 7.7, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, on Aug. 15. © ReutersISMI DAMAYANTIAugust 15, 2026 13:05 JSTUpdated on August 15, 2026 19:51 JSTJAKARTA -- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island on Saturday morning, killing at least 38 people. Many others are feared buried or missing."More than 2,000 people have been displaced and are evacuating their homes," Suharyanto, head of Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), told a briefing in Jakarta on Saturday afternoon.Suharyanto, who uses only one name, said landslides had blocked roads and public infrastructure in the reg