BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday, August 15, 2026, has risen to 47, according to the latest data released by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Joint emergency teams are continuing rapid assessments, evacuations, medical treatment for injured victims, and damage assessments across the affected areas.

Based on BNPB’s preliminary data as of 6:48 p.m. local time on Saturday, the fatalities were reported across six regencies. Manggarai recorded 24 deaths, followed by East Manggarai with 17, Sikka with three, West Manggarai with one, Ngada with one, and Ende with one.

“Besides these fatalities, officers have evacuated and provided medical treatment to injured victims,” said Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of BNPB’s Center for Data, Information and Disaster Communication, in a written statement issued Saturday.

The earthquake also caused significant damage to residential buildings and public facilities. As of 5 p.m. local time, BNPB recorded 157 heavily damaged houses, 41 moderately damaged houses, and 148 lightly damaged houses.

Public facilities were also affected, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, five places of worship, and six government or office buildings, along with other public infrastructure.

BNPB said data collection and verification were still underway to determine the full extent of casualties and damage across the affected areas.

Government Sends 50,000 Aid Packages

To support emergency response efforts, BNPB has mobilized food and non-food assistance to affected communities, including supplies distributed through the BNPB logistics warehouse in East Flores Regency, NTT.

Additional assistance was dispatched from Jakarta through the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base. A total of 50,000 aid packages weighing approximately 275 tons have been prepared.

As of Saturday evening, 10,500 packages had arrived at the airbase. The assistance was provided by President Prabowo Subianto.

The powerful earthquake was also felt in Bima Regency and Bima City in neighboring West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), as well as the Selayar Islands Regency in South Sulawesi.

Authorities reported that conditions in Bima Regency and Bima City were generally stable, while the local disaster management agency continued to assess the situation.

In the Selayar Islands, authorities established evacuation posts at three locations: Pasimarannu, Pasilambena, and Takabonerate districts.

IWO Bali Expresses Condolences and Calls for Humanitarian Solidarity

Amid the rising death toll, the Bali Provincial chapter of the Online Journalists Association (IWO Bali) expressed its deepest condolences to the victims and communities affected by the disaster in NTT.

IWO Bali said its thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families, while calling on the public to strengthen humanitarian solidarity and provide assistance according to their respective abilities.

“Our prayers are with everyone affected. May those who lost their lives rest in the best place with God Almighty, may those who were injured recover soon, and may all affected communities be given strength, resilience, and protection as they face this tragedy,” IWO Bali said in its statement.

The organization also emphasized that the people of NTT should not face the disaster alone.

“NTT is not alone. Together, we are strong.”

BNPB, local governments, and joint emergency response teams continue to conduct evacuations, verify casualty figures, assess damage, treat injured victims, and distribute essential assistance to communities affected by the earthquake.