Trans-Flores Ende–Nagekeo link reopens after earthquake-triggered landslide

Labuan Bajo — Road access on the Trans-Flores corridor between Ende and Nagekeo has been restored after a major landslide blocked the Ende–Bajawa section in the aftermath of the mid-August 2026 Flores earthquake, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR).

The landslide struck at kilometre 4+350 on the Ende–Bajawa route, where sand and rock material nearly 30 metres high covered the full width of the road and temporarily cut the main connection between Ende and Nagekeo, BNPB’s disaster communications unit said in a written statement on 20 August 2026.

PUPR’s Balai Pelaksanaan Jalan Nasional (BPJN) NTT deployed three excavators to clear the debris, opening the road in stages and gradually restoring traffic flows. BNPB reported that the entire road width at the affected point had been reopened by Thursday, 20 August 2026, allowing vehicles to pass under controlled conditions while work continued to stabilise the slope and remove remaining material.

Controlled reopening amid landslide risk

BNPB said initial clearance allowed only limited passage for motorcycles, while larger vehicles were admitted later under an alternating, stop–go traffic system with reduced speeds to minimise risk during the clean-up. According to BNPB’s on-site communications team, transport along the Ende–Nagekeo corridor began returning to normal once all lanes through kilometre 4+350 were reopened, though part of the landslide material remained on the upper slope above the road.

The agency noted that continued caution was required because residual material on the slope could still pose a hazard, especially in an area experiencing significant aftershock activity following the main quake. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) later reported thousands of aftershocks across Flores and said a further significant tremor on 20 August contributed to additional landslide incidents at several points on the island.

BNPB also reported that the landslide at kilometre 4+350 damaged a fibre-optic cable and disrupted telecommunications along the Ende–Nagekeo corridor. Restoration of the affected communications link was under way through coordination among technical agencies and operators.

Trans-Flores as a key east–west spine

The Trans-Flores road is the principal overland artery running east–west across Flores, connecting major population centres and tourism gateways between Larantuka in the east and Labuan Bajo in the west. Travel information services describe the route as extending roughly 660 kilometres, with the road bending through mountainous terrain and passing near towns including Maumere, Ende, Bajawa, Ruteng and Labuan Bajo.

According to regional travel guides, driving conditions along the corridor are demanding, with sharp bends, steep climbs and descents, and a relatively low average speed of around 35 kilometres per hour on the main road. Those accounts emphasise the need for drivers to plan fuel stops, rest breaks and overnight stays in larger towns along the way, and to be prepared for motion sickness on the more winding sections.

The recent landslide underscores the vulnerability of this mountain road to seismic and weather-related hazards and the importance of maintaining alternative links by air and sea. Local authorities have promoted secondary road connections and maritime routes as backup options for reaching Nagekeo and other districts when sections of the Trans-Flores corridor are disrupted.

From emergency clearance to long-term resilience

Following the August earthquake, BNPB tasked the Ministry of Public Works with rapidly clearing roads blocked by landslides so that logistics and emergency assistance could move across Flores. Public Works officials said national roads in the affected areas were prioritised for opening from the first day of disaster response, allowing trucks carrying relief supplies to resume operations once critical segments like the Ende–Bajawa Trans-Flores section were made passable.

BNPB indicated that operations on the kilometre 4+350 slope were shifting from emergency clearance to measures aimed at preventing further failures, including slope reinforcement and infrastructure rehabilitation planning along the corridor. The effectiveness of those interventions will shape how far this reopening strengthens the long-term resilience of the Trans-Flores route, which has historically been exposed to landslides and periodic closures in severe weather and seismic events.

For travellers, the updated situation means the Ende–Nagekeo road link is open again but remains subject to ongoing engineering work and heightened caution. Local verification of current traffic controls, road conditions and any temporary closures is advisable before relying on the corridor as a substitute for disrupted air or sea services.

Sources

• Metro TV News – Jalur Trans Flores Kembali Bisa Dilalui Setelah Tertutup Longsor
• Medcom.id – Dua Pekan Berlalu, Begini Kondisi NTT Setelah Diguncang Gempa M7,7
• Riwara.id – Pemerintah Sudah Kirim 253 TTon Bantuan untuk Korban Gempa Flores
• Wikipedia (English) – 2026 Flores earthquake
• BMKG – Siaran Pers: BMKG Catat 4.258 Gempa Susulan Pasca-Gempa Utama Flores
• Travel2Flores.info – Flores Surga Kita / Transport & Guiding pages
• DetikFinance – Kementerian PU Buka Jalan hingga Jembatan Terdampak Gempa Flores