Offshore M5.2 earthquake northeast of Labuan Bajo felt in Manggarai

Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara — 27 August 2026 — A tectonic earthquake of around magnitude 5.2 struck offshore northeast of Labuan Bajo on Thursday afternoon, 27 August 2026, and was felt at intensity III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale in parts of Manggarai, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and local media reports.

BMKG located the epicentre in the sea northeast of Labuan Bajo, at a shallow depth of around 10–13 kilometres. The agency’s automatic bulletin initially reported a magnitude of 5.2 at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre about 52 kilometres northeast of Labuan Bajo, before an updated analysis revised the magnitude slightly to 5.1 and the epicentral distance to about 49 kilometres.

BMKG stated that the earthquake did not generate a tsunami and was classified as tidak berpotensi tsunami (not tsunami‑potential). The United States Geological Survey similarly recorded a shallow offshore event of magnitude 5.3 near Labuan Bajo at a depth of 10 kilometres on 27 August 2026, with the hypocentre located about 54 kilometres north‑northeast of the town.

According to BMKG’s shakemap and felt‑reports, the tremor reached intensity IV MMI in parts of Manggarai Barat, including Macang Pacar and Boleng, where shaking is felt by many people indoors during the day. Intensity III MMI was reported in Reok Barat, Manggarai, where vibrations are clearly felt in houses and can resemble the passage of a heavy truck.

Part of an ongoing aftershock sequence

BMKG classified the 27 August earthquake as part of the aftershock sequence following the magnitude 7.7 mainshock that struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on 15 August 2026. The agency identified the event as a shallow thrust‑fault earthquake associated with the Flores Back‑Arc Thrust system.

By 27 August 2026, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that monitoring data showed 8,193 aftershocks had occurred since the mainshock, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to 6.2. According to BNPB and BMKG information cited in a humanitarian update, 146 of these aftershocks had been felt by residents.

BMKG and BNPB assessments indicate that seismic activity in the region remained elevated in the weeks after the main event, and further aftershocks were expected to continue into the third and fourth week following the 15 August earthquake. The 27 August Labuan Bajo offshore quake is therefore one of many aftershocks in a broader sequence affecting Flores and surrounding districts.

Impacts and advice for residents and visitors

Local coverage of the 27 August event did not report casualties or specific damage linked to this particular offshore tremor near Labuan Bajo. Separate official and media reports on the 15 August mainshock documented damage to homes, public buildings and tourism facilities in parts of Flores, including Labuan Bajo and Manggarai Barat, but these accounts refer to the earlier, larger earthquake rather than to the 27 August aftershock.

BMKG continues to advise residents and visitors in Flores to remain cautious around structures already cracked or weakened by previous earthquakes and to follow instructions from local authorities. The agency recommends staying away from damaged buildings, securing loose interior fittings, and seeking open areas during strong shaking.

For travellers, dive operators and accommodation providers in and around Labuan Bajo, current BMKG bulletins and local disaster‑management updates remain the primary reference for safety decisions during the ongoing aftershock sequence. Offshore earthquakes of this size are commonly felt onshore at light to moderate intensity, and while the 27 August tremor was assessed as not tsunami‑generating, authorities emphasise that continued minor to moderate shaking is possible as the crust adjusts after the 15 August mainshock.

Key data

• Origin time: 27 August 2026, 17:33:25 WIB (BMKG)
• Magnitude: initial M5.2, updated to about M5.1 (BMKG); M5.3 (USGS)
• Location: offshore, about 49–54 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara
• Depth: approximately 10–13 km (shallow crustal earthquake)
• Reported intensity: up to IV MMI in parts of Manggarai Barat; III MMI in parts of Manggarai
• Sequence status: aftershock of the 15 August 2026 M7.7 Flores earthquake
• Aftershocks by 27 August: 8,193 events recorded, magnitudes 1.0–6.2; 146 felt earthquakes

Sources

• BMKG – Gempa Bumi M5,2 – 66 km TimurLaut Manggarai Barat NTT
• MetroTV News – Gempa M 5,2 Guncang Labuan Bajo, Terasa di Manggarai
• Liputan6 – Gempa Magnitudo 5,2 Guncang Labuan Bajo
• USGS via SMS Tsunami Warning – Earthquake M5.3 Labuan Bajo, Indonesia (Aug 27, 2026)
• BMM – PT Petrosea Tbk Salurkan Bantuan Bagi Korban Gempa NTT