JAKARTA, Aug 16 - A magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday has killed at least 51 people, with rescue operations ongoing.
Deadliest earthquakes of the past decade, according to BNPB
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PALU, SIGI - 4,141 DEATHS
Sept. 28, 2018: A magnitude-7.5 quake set off a tsunami and widespread liquefaction that devastated Palu city and neighbouring districts in Donggala regency on Sulawesi island. The event resulted in 4,141 deaths, left 4,438 injured and 705 listed as missing. More than 110,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. -
CIANJUR - 602
Nov. 21, 2022: A relatively shallow magnitude-5.6 earthquake struck inland in West Java province. Despite its moderate magnitude, it became the deadliest non-tsunami earthquake in Indonesia over the past decade, killing 602 people, injuring 7,810 and damaging more than 56,000 homes. -
LOMBOK - 518
Aug. 5, 2018: A magnitude-7.0 earthquake, followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, severely impacted large areas of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara province, resulting in at least 518 fatalities. -
MAMUJU-MAJENE - 107
Jan. 15, 2021: A magnitude-6.2 earthquake caused extensive collapses of buildings, including government offices, homes and health facilities across West Sulawesi province. The official death toll was 107, with widespread damage reported in Mamuju and Majene regencies. -
PIDIE JAYA - 96
Dec. 7, 2016: A shallow magnitude-6.5 quake struck before dawn, toppling structures and trapping residents beneath rubble. Records list 96 deaths and hundreds injured, marking one of Aceh province's deadliest events since the 2004 tsunami.
Context and ongoing situation
The recent magnitude-7.7 event in eastern Indonesia has added to a decade marked by several high-fatality earthquakes in different regions of the archipelago. Rescue operations following the latest quake remain in progress.
Summary of findings
The BNPB data show that the most lethal events combined high magnitudes with secondary hazards such as tsunamis and liquefaction, as well as shallow inland quakes that caused severe building collapse. Across the listed events, casualties range from dozens to several thousand, and reported damage includes tens of thousands of homes and critical public facilities.