What Do the 1992 and 2026 Flores Earthquakes Have in Common?
An M7.7 earthquake in Flores has drawn comparisons with the deadly 1992 disaster, highlighting seismic risks along Indonesia's Flores Back-Arc.
The M7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia's Flores region on August 15, 2026, bears striking similarities to the devastating M7.9 earthquake that hit the same area 34 years prior. Irwan Meilano, a professor at Bandung Institute of Technology's Earth Sciences and Technology faculty, noted that both earthquakes occurred in close proximity and followed similar seismic mechanisms.
The proximity of the two earthquakes, just under 40 kilometers apart, has prompted experts to pay particular attention to the Flores Back-Arc region today.
The 1992 Flores earthquake occurred on December 12, resulting in a massive tsunami with waves up to 25 meters in height. The disaster claimed approximately 2,000 lives and left many residents homeless. The earthquake also caused significant infrastructure damage, including the destruction of major roads, bridges, and public facilities in Maumere.
The Flores Back-Arc, a tectonically active zone north of Flores, is known for its history of significant seismic activity. This region experienced a M6.6 earthquake in 2009 and a series of earthquakes north of Lombok in 2018. Recent research by ITB and the National Center for Earthquake Studies (Pusgen) indicated that some areas within the Flores Back-Arc have yet to experience major earthquakes.
The M7.7 earthquake that struck offshore Flores on August 15, 2026, had its epicenter about 30 kilometers northeast of Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara. The earthquake, caused by thrust-fault movement along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust, reached a depth of 15 kilometers, generating shaking levels up to MMV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale in several areas.
While the earthquake did cause damage to homes and public facilities, it resulted in a significantly smaller tsunami compared to the 1992 event. The tsunami waves recorded were much smaller, measuring only 0.94 meters in Maurole and 0.17 meters in Dompu, leading to a relatively lower death toll of 47.
The similarities between the 1992 and 2026 earthquakes do not guarantee future tsunami or major earthquakes, but they highlight the ongoing seismic risks associated with the Flores Back-Arc region. The history of significant seismic activity in the area emphasizes the importance of earthquake preparedness, tsunami awareness, and reliable early-warning systems for communities living along Flores and surrounding islands.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
