BNPB Confirms 142 Deaths Linked to Flores Earthquake, Most in Shelters
Indonesia’s disaster agency BNPB says 142 people died in connection with the August 15 Flores earthquake, including 48 killed directly by the tremor and 94 who died later in evacuation shelters, prompting calls for scrutiny of the crisis…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 4 min read
Labuan Bajo — The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that 142 people died in connection with the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with nearly two-thirds of the fatalities recorded among evacuees staying in shelters after the disaster, according to agency briefings and media reports.
BNPB’s acting head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Center, Berton SP Panjaitan, said in a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, that 48 people were killed directly by the quake, while 94 deaths were recorded among people who had moved to evacuation shelters.
According to coverage of the briefing, the agency classified the 94 deaths as indirect impacts of the earthquake that occurred while survivors were living in temporary shelters. Media reports describing the same briefing noted that the quake caused widespread damage across Flores and briefly triggered tsunami alerts in the province.
The figures cited by BNPB indicate a single overall death toll, broken down by where and how people died, rather than competing totals. Of the 142 deaths recorded, 48 were attributed to the immediate effects of the tremor, while 94 occurred later among evacuees.
BNPB’s clarification on shelter deaths
In a video statement released on Thursday, September 17, 2026, through BNPB’s official channels, Berton clarified that the 94 evacuees did not die from physical trauma caused by building collapses or direct impact from the quake. He said the figure was based on joint verification and validation carried out by BNPB and the Health Ministry across seven affected districts.
According to Berton’s explanation, medical-team data indicated that most of those who died in shelters were older residents with chronic illnesses. He linked the fatalities to complications of pre-existing conditions such as stroke and diabetes, rather than to being struck by rubble.
Indonesian media reports citing the same clarification note that BNPB framed the deaths as indirect impacts of the disaster that occurred while people were displaced, and that the agency sought to address concerns that all 94 had been killed by structural damage.
Displacement and ongoing response
BNPB data presented at the September 15 briefing showed that more than 150,000 residents were initially displaced after the earthquake. By that date, the agency reported that the number of people still living in evacuation shelters had fallen to around 46,000, as some residents returned home or moved to alternative accommodation.
BNPB said medical teams were providing services through health facilities and integrated posts, and that the agency continued distributing medicines, medical equipment and other essential supplies to centralized and community-based shelters.
Reports from national and regional outlets describe uneven aid distribution, shortages of basic supplies and continuing humanitarian needs among survivors more than a month after the quake, even as official data show a gradual decline in the number of displaced residents.
Scrutiny of death figures and shelter conditions
The high proportion of recorded deaths occurring in evacuation shelters has prompted questions from commentators and civil society groups about the quality of care and protection provided to displaced people, and several media reports say critics have called for an independent investigation into the handling of the crisis.
Commentary in Indonesian and regional outlets highlights that distinguishing between direct deaths from the quake and deaths recorded later among evacuees could be significant for public accountability, including assessments of access to medical care, shelter conditions and emergency preparedness.
As of mid-September 2026, BNPB’s figures of 142 deaths, including 48 direct and 94 indirect fatalities, represent the agency’s latest reconciled data on casualties associated with the Flores earthquake, based on its own reporting and verification with health authorities.
Sources
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