PLN Restores Flores Power After Quake as Labuan Bajo Tourism Reopens

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s state-owned utility PLN says it has restored electricity to all customers affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores on 15 August 2026, with full supply back in service by 17:40 WITA on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, even as checks on tourism sites and other infrastructure continued.

PLN described the Flores electricity system as fully recovered after the quake, with all previously affected customers again receiving power by the Tuesday evening milestone, according to a report published on 19 August 2026.

The company’s statement focused on the operational status of its grid rather than the structural safety of individual buildings, roads or tourism facilities, which remained the responsibility of local governments and tourism authorities.

PLN’s restoration effort

PLN said it mobilised 1,144 personnel to secure installations, carry out repairs and gradually re-energise its network across Flores.

Field crews inspected substations, distribution points and other assets one by one before switching them back on, a process that was slowed in some locations by difficult access and damage to surrounding infrastructure.

Earlier, PLN had reported that 11 transmission substations (gardu induk) affected by the quake were operating again, with available generating capacity of 111 MW compared with a normal load of about 105 MW.

By mid-August, PLN said the restoration of transformers at main substations had reached 100 percent and 99.45 percent of 3,478 affected distribution substations were back in service, supplying power to about 564,000 customers in the impacted area.

PLN stated that its personnel would remain on standby to monitor the system and respond quickly to any further disruptions, underscoring that a live connection does not by itself certify the safety of nearby structures or public facilities.

Tourism reopening under separate oversight

While PLN worked to normalise electricity, tourism authorities and local operators carried out their own assessments of destinations, accommodation and access routes.

The Ministry of Tourism, citing monitoring by the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF), reported on 19 August that tourism activity in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park was gradually returning to normal after the quake.

According to the ministry, Marina Labuan Bajo had resumed operations and sailing access to Komodo National Park was open, with key sites such as Padar Island, Loh Liang on Komodo Island, Loh Buaya on Rinca Island and Gili Lawa again receiving visitors.

BNPB, the national disaster management agency, separately stated on 18 August that tourism activity in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park was generally normal, safe and conducive, and that access and operations at Marina Labuan Bajo had reopened by the fourth day after the quake.

BPOLBF later reported that a wider range of attractions across Flores and the Labuan Bajo area were back in service by 23 August, including Batu Cermin, Gua Rangko, Compang Liang Ndara, Puncak Waringin and several other village and nature tourism sites.

Why the distinction matters for visitors

Restoring power enables lighting, refrigeration, communications and business operations to resume.

However, tourism authorities and operators emphasised that the key question for visitors was not only whether electricity was available, but whether specific destinations, hotels, transport links and access routes had been inspected and formally reopened.

Ministry statements and BPOLBF updates highlighted that recovery was proceeding in stages: flagship sites in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park reopened relatively quickly, while some other destinations across Flores remained closed temporarily to prioritise visitor safety.

Officials also urged travellers to remain alert to aftershocks, high waves and strong winds in the region, even as core infrastructure and tourism services returned to normal.

Sources

• MetroTV News
• Liputan6.com (Business)
• Investortrust.id
• BPOLBF (Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores)
• Viva.co.id
• BeritaSatu.com