GULF OF TOMINI, Indonesia, Aug. 15 (ANI) — Indonesia was struck by yet another earthquake Saturday, making it the third to hit the country within hours as it continued to reel from the devastation caused by a series of seismic events.
The National Center for Seismology said in a post on X that a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini on Saturday night.
According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 68 kilometers at 9:55 p.m. IST.
The agency said: “EQ of M: 6.0, On: 15/08/2026 21:55:18 IST, Lat: 0.174 N, Long: 120.312 E, Depth: 68 Km, Location: Gulf of Tomini.”
The latest earthquake came hours after a magnitude 6.5 quake struck Indonesia on Saturday afternoon, following a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the morning that killed at least 38 people and triggered a tsunami warning, CBS News reported.
“Thirty-eight people have been confirmed dead, two were seriously injured, 11 sustained minor injuries, and approximately 2,000 people have evacuated on their own,” Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto said at a news conference, according to CBS News.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earlier earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores region at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located roughly 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks followed the initial quake.
The head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency, Fathur Rahman, said rescuers continued searching for two villagers believed to be buried under mud following a landslide triggered by the earthquake.
East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said the earthquake caused severe damage and collapsed buildings. Power outages in cities and villages disrupted communications and hampered search and rescue operations.
The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency deployed a helicopter to assist with logistics and emergency response operations, including possible evacuations.
The air support was considered crucial because East Nusa Tenggara consists of numerous islands, creating significant transportation and access challenges.
Around 2,000 villagers in Nagekeo regency also fled their homes and moved to temporary shelters, CBS News reported. (ANI)
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