Indonesia is in a state of shock following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Flores Islands in East Nusa Tenggara in the early hours of Saturday 15th August.
Tourists in Bali are being advised that Bali Province remains safe for travel, but that some travel to East Nusa Tenggara should be reassessed.
The latest data from the National Disaster Management Agency shows that 43 people are recorded to have died in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The BNPB Chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto said the dozens of victims were spread across five regencies on Flores Islands.
He confirmed that 21 people died in Manggarai Regency, 17 in East Manggarai, three in Sikka, one in West Manggarai, and one in Ngada Regency. The initial report suggested that the death toll was 33, though with the figure now confirmed to be 43, and search and rescue missions ongoing, there are fears that this could rise further.
On Monday 17th August another earthquake hit the region, with a magnitude of 5.9. The second earthquake as only served to make conditions on the ground more intense with initial reports suggesting that more than 5,000 people have been evacuated, with 3,300 sheltering in tents. Some communities have been left without clean water, with aftershocks still ringing through the region.
Saturday’s earthquake also affected the region’s transportation system, including five airports in the province. However, the damage did not occur to the runways, but rather to the terminal buildings. The extent of the damage to each terminal is still under investigation.
Chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto told reporters, “The Ministry of Transportation has identified five airports affected. However, it’s not the runways that are damaged. Whether they are classified as minor, moderate, or severe damage depends on the terminal building.” Reo Port and Maumere Port have also been reported to have been affected by the earthquake.
However, flights from Bali to Flores remain open and operational, and there have been no reported cancellations or delays. Nor, in the coming days, are we likely to anticipate airport closures as the extent of the damage to terminal buildings is assessed. Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, Head of Communication & Legal Division at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, stated that airport operations were running normally.
He shared, “In connection with the earthquake that occurred in the Flores Island region, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday morning, we can convey that flight operations and airport services at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali are running normally and optimally.”
Even in the hours after the earthquake, throughout Saturday, for the Ngurah Rai–Labuan Bajo route and vice versa, there are nine departures and eight arrivals. Asmadi told reporters, “As of now, flight services to and from airports in the East Nusa Tenggara region are operating normally, and there have been no flight cancellations.”
Speaking separately, Wijanto, Director of Earthquakes and Tsunami at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, told reporters that although tsunami warnings were initially in place, the warning has been stood down and there are no further concerns of aftershocks in the region.
He explained, “Considering the current conditions and sea level observations in the affected areas, there is no longer any significant, dangerous sea level rise. Therefore, the tsunami early warning was declared over at 7:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.”
Wijanto told the public to be sensible with where they are sourcing their information from, to trust official guidance from the BMKG, and to be wary of social media speculation. He concluded, “Ensure official information comes only from the BMKG and is distributed through verified official communication channels.”
Tourists traveling from Bali to East Nusa Tenggara, specifically the Flores Islands and destinations like Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park, should check in with their travel provider to understand the best situation in the specific area they are due to visit in the coming days and weeks.
All tourists traveling to Bali and all other regions of Indonesia must take out fully comprehensive travel insurance that provides cover in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake. Tourists should also keep close at hand the details of their embassy or consulate, which are often the first to provide support to foreigners in the event of a major incident.
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