NTT tourism sites partly closed after 7.7-magnitude quake: Ministry

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said it was conducting monitoring through the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Implementing Agency (BPOLBF).

Monitoring is being carried out through inspections of hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations, as well as through a tourism information hotline for tourists and businesses to ensure the availability of accurate and reliable information.

Destinations that remain closed include Wae Rebo and Ruteng Pu’u in Manggarai District, Kelimutu National Park in Ende District following a landslide on the crater wall, and the Maumere Bay Islands Marine Nature Park (TWAL) in Sikka District.

Several tourist sites in Ngada and Nagekeo Districts also remain closed due to disruptions to communication and electricity services.

Meanwhile, the aviation sector has also made several adjustments. Ende Airport has canceled all flights through August 20, 2026, while Frans Sales Lega Airport in Ruteng has canceled Wings Air flights through August 22, 2026.

Despite the closures, Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Frans Seda Airport in Maumere, and Gewayantana Airport in Larantuka remain operational, although some flight schedules have been adjusted.

In addition, several key destinations in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park have begun returning to normal. Labuan Bajo Marina Port is operating normally, while shipping access to Komodo National Park has reopened.

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Tourism activities on Padar Island, Loh Liang on Komodo Island, Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, and Gili Lawa have also returned to normal. Tourist arrivals in the area reached more than 2,000 people per day on August 17, 2026.

Other destinations, such as Kelor Island and Todo Traditional Village in Manggarai District, remained busy and continued to operate as usual. Batu Cermin tourist destination also reopened on August 16, 2026.

Regarding accommodation, most major hotels, including Ayana, Crowne Plaza, Sudamala, Ta’aktana Marriott, and Meruorah, were reported to be safe, with only minor damage.

Power supplies and internet connections have also returned to normal, with no reports of guests leaving early.

Meanwhile, the Jayakarta Hotel suffered severe structural damage and has been temporarily closed. All guests have been evacuated and are receiving assistance from the hotel.

The Ministry of Tourism will continue to collect data and verify damage to accommodations, tourist attractions, and tourism support facilities across all affected districts.

Coordination is also ongoing with the Ministry of Transportation and AirNav Indonesia to support the restoration of airport operations through the Get Airport Ready for Disaster (GARD) scheme.

The government has urged tourists planning trips to Flores to prioritize safety, monitor information from official sources, and contact the BPOLBF hotline before departure.

Previously, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck parts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) early Saturday (August 15), with the epicenter located approximately 30 kilometers from Mbay in Nagekeo District at a depth of 15 kilometers.

According to data from authorities as of August 18, 69 people had died, 331 were injured, and 34,689 were displaced.

Furthermore, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 2,403 aftershocks as of August 18, including 24 with magnitudes above 5.

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