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THE INDONESIAN Ministry of Tourism has stated that several tourist destinations in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) still require special attention and remain temporarily closed as a precautionary measure for tourist safety following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake.
In an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday, the Ministry of Tourism reported that it is conducting monitoring through the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BPOLBF).
This monitoring involves periodic field verifications at hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations, alongside the operation of a tourism information hotline for tourists and business operators to ensure that the information provided is accurate and reliable.
Destinations reported to remain closed include Wae Rebo and Ruteng Pu’u in Manggarai; Kelimutu National Park in Ende (due to crater wall landslides); the Maumere Bay Island Cluster Marine Nature Tourism Park (TWAL) in Sikka; and various tourism areas in Ngada and Nagekeo Regencies that are still facing disruptions to communication networks and electricity supplies.
The aviation sector has also undergone adjustments. Ende Airport has cancelled all flights until August 20, 2026, while Frans Sales Lega Airport in Ruteng has cancelled Wings Air flights until August 22, 2026.
Meanwhile, Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Frans Seda Airport in Maumere, and Gewayantana Airport in Larantuka continue to operate, albeit with some adjustments to flight schedules.
To ensure tourists and business operators receive accurate information, BPOLBF has launched a tourism information hotline at 0811-3879-4555. This service provides the latest updates on destination conditions, accessibility, and accommodation following the earthquake.
Nevertheless, operations at several key destinations in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park have begun to return to normal. The Labuan Bajo Marina Port is operating normally, and maritime access to Komodo National Park has been reopened. Tourism activities on Padar Island, at Loh Liang on Komodo Island, Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, and Gili Lawa have also returned to normal. Tourist visits to these areas reached over 2,000 people per day on August 17, 2026.
Other destinations, such as Kelor Island and the Todo Traditional Village in Manggarai, remain busy with visitors and are operating as usual. Meanwhile, the Batu Cermin destination reopened on August 16, 2026.
Regarding accommodation in West Manggarai, major hotels—including Ayana, Crowne Plaza, Sudamala, Ta’aktana Marriott, and Meruorah—are reported to be safe, having sustained only minor damage.
Electricity and internet services have returned to normal, and there have been no reports of guests cutting their trips short to return home early.
However, the Jayakarta Hotel sustained severe structural damage and has been temporarily closed. All guests have been evacuated and are being assisted by hotel management.
The Ministry of Tourism stated it would continue to assess and verify damage to accommodations, tourist attractions, and tourism support facilities across all affected regencies.
Coordination is also ongoing with the Ministry of Transportation and AirNav to support the restoration of airport operations through the “Get Airport Ready for Disaster” (GARD) scheme.
The government urges tourists planning trips to Flores to prioritize safety, monitor information from official sources, and contact the BPOLBF hotline before departure. These measures are crucial given that aftershock activity is still occurring in several areas.
Previously, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck parts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday (August 15) at 05:58 WITA (Central Indonesian Time) or 04:58 WIB (Western Indonesian Time), centered approximately 30 km from Mbay-Nagekeo at a depth of 15 km. According to data from the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD NTT) as of August 18, 2026, at 09:00 WITA, 69 people have died, 331 have been injured, and 34,689 have been displaced.
A total of 19,297 houses were reported damaged, comprising 6,463 heavily damaged, 2,481 moderately damaged, and 12,006 slightly damaged units.
Aftershock activity is ongoing. The BMKG recorded 2,403 aftershocks up to August 18, 2026, at 17:00 WIB, including 24 events with a magnitude exceeding 5.
Significant impacts were recorded in Manggarai Regency (26 deaths) and East Manggarai (25 deaths), as well as in Nagekeo—the earthquake’s epicenter—where 8 people died.
Several areas have declared a disaster alert status, including northern Manggarai, northern Ngada, Ende, and East Flores. [antaranews]
