Minor 0.36 m Tsunami Reached Labuan Bajo After Flores Quake

Labuan Bajo — A powerful earthquake and minor tsunami disturbed coastal waters and infrastructure across Flores and nearby areas on Saturday, 15 August 2026, with instruments recording a small sea-level rise of about 0.36 metres at Labuan Bajo according to Indonesia’s meteorology agency BMKG and subsequent technical summaries.

The seismic sequence was driven by a major offshore quake in the Flores Sea, initially estimated at magnitude 7.0 and later updated to around 7.7, which struck at 05:58 WITA on 15 August 2026, roughly 30 kilometres northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, according to BMKG releases and regional disaster briefings.

BMKG reported that the main shock generated a series of tsunami waves measured at ten monitoring sites along the coast, including Labuan Bajo, Maurole–Ende, Bulukumba and Kewapante–Sikka.

At the Labuan Bajo tide gauge, the recorded sea-level change was about 0.36 metres, a height described by BMKG and other technical analysts as minor and well below thresholds for a destructive tsunami.

Elsewhere, higher but still moderate amplitudes were logged, including around 0.94 metres at Maurole–Ende and roughly 0.54 metres at Bulukumba.

Early warning and cancellation

Following the main shock, BMKG issued a tsunami early warning covering parts of East Nusa Tenggara and other provinces facing the Flores Sea.

According to BMKG’s public statement, the warning remained in force for about two and a half hours while sea-level data were assessed.

BMKG said the early warning was formally cancelled at 07:30 WIB, corresponding to 08:30 WITA, after the agency no longer observed sea-level increases that posed a significant danger along the monitored coasts.

Technical accounts and media summaries based on BMKG data emphasised that, despite measurable sea-level changes, no large destructive tsunami struck Labuan Bajo.

Local shaking and reported impacts

Residents and visitors in Labuan Bajo and other parts of western Flores reported strong ground shaking from the main earthquake, followed by numerous aftershocks.

BMKG later confirmed more than thirty aftershocks in the first hours after the main event, with magnitudes ranging from around 3.6 to 6.2.

Local media and humanitarian assessments noted that the shaking caused damage in several districts, including Maumere and Labuan Bajo, where some buildings and public facilities were reported affected.

Indonesian broadcasters, citing BMKG officials, reported damage to at least one hotel facility and port infrastructure, while stressing that impact verification was still ongoing in the days immediately after the disaster.

In Labuan Bajo, eyewitnesses described residents and tourists moving away from the waterfront after feeling strong tremors and seeing the sea behave unusually, with some reports of the waterline changing and small waves arriving at the shore.

Local coverage also mentioned temporary disruptions to electricity and communications in the town following the quake, adding to public anxiety.

Labuan Bajo data in the wider Flores event

The 0.36-metre sea-level change recorded at Labuan Bajo is treated in technical reports as one of several instrumental readings that help characterise the 15 August 2026 tsunami.

BMKG’s numerical modelling and post-event analysis identify the Flores Sea earthquake and associated tsunami as a significant natural disaster for the wider region, with confirmed casualties and material losses in multiple coastal areas.

However, for Labuan Bajo itself, the available instrument readings and agency statements point to a minor tsunami effect rather than a major inundation, even though local communities experienced strong shaking, anxiety over the warning and some structural damage.

For visitors and investors assessing risk, the verified data indicate that Labuan Bajo is close enough to offshore seismic sources to experience strong tremors and measurable tsunami waves, but in this case the recorded amplitude and official warnings remained within the range of a limited coastal disturbance.

Sources

• detikNews - Kondisi Labuan Bajo Usai Gempa M 6,2: Air Laut Surut-Listrik Mati
• BMKG - BMKG Akhiri Peringatan Dini Tsunami Pasca-Gempa M7.7 NTT
• Watchers News - Major M7.7 earthquake hits Flores region, Indonesia
• Databoks (Katadata) - Gempa Terkini 6,2 M Guncang Labuanbajo, Ini Penjelasan BMKG
• ADRRN / IHCP - Earthquake and Tsunami – Flores and Surrounding Areas (Flash Update 1)
• TVRI Nasional - Gempa M 7,7 Guncang NTT, Kerusakan Dilaporkan hingga Labuan Bajo
• Komodo Luxury - Labuan Bajo Tsunami: What Really Happened on 15 August 2026