Last updated: August 2026 · Prices & availability verified for the 2026/2027 season
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · Written from Labuan Bajo
No — there was no destructive tsunami in Labuan Bajo. After the M7.7 Flores Sea earthquake on 15 August 2026, BMKG issued a tsunami early warning, the Labuan Bajo tide gauge recorded a small wave of about 0.36 metres, and the warning was lifted roughly three hours later — with sailing officially reopened the very same day.
TL;DR: A tsunami warning was issued. A tsunami disaster did not happen in Labuan Bajo. The sea produced a minor wave of about 0.36 m at the town’s tide gauge, BMKG cancelled the warning around three hours after the quake, and the Harbormaster reopened sailing that same afternoon (Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026). As of August 16, 2026, trips are running normally.
Here are the verified facts, as of August 16, 2026:
- Earthquake: magnitude 7.7 (BMKG’s initial estimate of M7.0 was later revised), Saturday 15 August 2026 at 05:58 WITA.
- Epicentre: the Flores Sea near Mbay, Nagekeo — roughly 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, at a shallow depth of about 15 km.
- Warning: BMKG issued a tsunami early warning covering NTT, NTB, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.
- What the sea actually did: about 0.36 m was recorded at the Labuan Bajo tide gauge and about 0.94 m at Maurole, Ende. No destructive tsunami formed.
- All clear: the warning was lifted approximately three hours after the earthquake.
- Sailing: officially reopened the same day by the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) under Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026.
- Komodo Airport: runway and apron declared safe; the airport kept operating.
- Komodo National Park: never closed; trips have been running normally since 16 August, so far without disruption.
What happened on the morning of 15 August 2026?
At 05:58 WITA, a strong earthquake struck the Flores Sea near Mbay in Nagekeo — about 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo. Because the quake was large, shallow and under the sea, BMKG did exactly what its protocols require: it issued a tsunami early warning that morning for coastal areas of NTT, NTB, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.
We experienced that morning first-hand. Our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck. Vessels were held in deep water — where tsunami waves are at their smallest — guests wore life jackets in line with our safety procedures, and guests on land were moved to higher ground as a precaution until the warning was lifted. Everyone was safe and accounted for.
So was there actually a tsunami in Labuan Bajo?
Not in any meaningful sense of the word. Instruments are precise here: the tide gauge at Labuan Bajo registered a sea-level change of about 0.36 metres — roughly knee height — and the gauge at Maurole in Ende recorded about 0.94 metres. These readings confirm the earthquake disturbed the sea, but nothing close to a destructive tsunami reached Labuan Bajo.
That distinction matters. Headlines that said “tsunami warning” were accurate; headlines implying a tsunami struck Labuan Bajo were not. If you saw the two mixed together on social media, this is the clarification.
What is the difference between a tsunami warning and a tsunami?
A tsunami warning is a precaution, not a report of an event. When a large undersea earthquake occurs, agencies like BMKG estimate the tsunami potential from the quake’s magnitude, depth and location — and they issue the warning before anyone knows whether a significant wave will actually form, because waiting for confirmation would cost lives if one did.
An actual tsunami is then confirmed — or ruled out — by tide gauges and sea-level observations in the hours that follow. On 15 August, those observations showed only small waves, so BMKG formally lifted the warning about three hours after the earthquake. In other words: the system worked exactly as designed. A warning that ends with a 0.36 m ripple is the early-warning system succeeding, not failing.
Timeline: from earthquake to boats back at sea
| Time (WITA), 15 August 2026 | What happened |
|---|---|
| 05:58 | M7.7 earthquake in the Flores Sea near Mbay, Nagekeo — ~200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, ~15 km deep |
| Shortly after the quake | BMKG issues a tsunami early warning for NTT, NTB, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi |
| Morning | Small waves recorded: ~0.36 m at the Labuan Bajo tide gauge; ~0.94 m at Maurole, Ende |
| ~3 hours after the quake | BMKG lifts the tsunami warning — no destructive tsunami formed |
| Same day | Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) officially reopens sailing — Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026 |
| Afternoon | Boats, including our fleet, return to the water with guests |
| 16 August | Trips operating normally; Komodo National Park open throughout — so far without disruption |
Where was the real impact of the earthquake?
The serious damage was not in Labuan Bajo. It was concentrated in central and eastern Flores — Nagekeo, Sikka, Manggarai and Manggarai Timur — where dozens of lives were lost. Our thoughts are with the families and communities of NTT, and with the local responders working there. Labuan Bajo itself, at the far western tip of Flores and about 200 km from the epicentre, saw limited, moderate damage and the town has remained functional throughout.
How did Labuan Bajo get back to normal so quickly?
Three official decisions, all on the same day. First, BMKG declared the tsunami potential over and lifted the warning. Second, the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) issued Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026 reopening sailing from the port — we covered that decision in detail in how sailing reopened the same day. Third, the Komodo Airport authority declared the runway and apron safe; a section of taxiway was closed for inspection and some flights were briefly adjusted, but operations were normal again by the evening of 15 August (full details in our Komodo Airport status update).
Our own boats returned to the water that same afternoon. As of August 16, our phinisi liveaboards and day boats are sailing on their normal schedules.
What does this mean if you have a Komodo trip booked?
So far, everything is operating: private trips, open trips, private yacht charters and Labuan Bajo tours are running under normal authority clearance, and Komodo National Park was never closed. We sail only when BMKG and the Harbormaster say sailing is permitted — that rule protected our guests on 15 August and it protects them now.
If you are weighing up whether to keep your dates, our honest walkthrough is here: should I cancel my Komodo trip? And for the broader safety picture, see is Labuan Bajo safe after the earthquake? If you would simply feel better moving your trip, our Sail Again Guarantee protects 100% of your payment as travel credit — a flexible rebooking guarantee, so you can sail when you are ready.
What would change this answer
We keep this page updated. Our answer above — no tsunami, port and park open, trips running — would change if any of the following happened:
- BMKG issues a new tsunami warning or raises its assessment after a significant aftershock;
- the Harbormaster (KSOP) suspends sailing from Labuan Bajo again;
- Komodo Airport restricts flight operations;
- we pause our own departures for any operational safety reason.
None of these apply as of August 16, 2026. If they ever do, this article will say so plainly, with the same sourcing: BMKG, the Harbormaster’s maklumat, and the airport authority.
Questions guests have asked us in the last 48 hours
I saw the tsunami warning was lifted — is it really over?
Yes. BMKG lifted the warning about three hours after the earthquake once sea-level observations confirmed no destructive tsunami had formed. The Harbormaster then reopened sailing the same day under Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026, and boats — including ours — were back on the water that afternoon. As of August 16, operations are normal.
Are there still aftershocks? Is it safe to come, or should we cancel?
Several aftershocks were felt on 15 August, which is normal after a large earthquake, and so far they have not affected operations in Labuan Bajo. We never promise the sea anything it cannot promise back — what we can say is that sailing is officially reopened, the park is open, and every departure follows BMKG and Harbormaster clearance. If you would rather move your dates, your payment is fully protected as travel credit under our Sail Again Guarantee.
Is it safe to go on the boat after the earthquake?
Boats sail only under official clearance, and so far conditions have been normal since the reopening. Our crews run full safety protocols on every departure — life jackets, weather and sea monitoring, and direct coordination with the harbor authority — the same procedures that kept every guest safe on the morning of the quake.
Someone I know was on a boat near Komodo when the warning was issued — how were guests kept safe?
Our captains followed the standard tsunami procedure: vessels moved to and held position in deep water, where tsunami energy is weakest, and guests wore life jackets throughout. Guests on land were brought to higher ground. All guests and crew were safe and accounted for, and boats returned to harbor after BMKG lifted the warning.
If I decide not to travel because of the earthquake, what are my options?
You will not lose your booking value. Under our Sail Again Guarantee, 100% of what you have paid is protected as travel credit — a flexible rebooking guarantee that lets you move to new dates or pass the trip to family or friends. Message our team on WhatsApp and they will confirm the details for your specific booking.
Labuan Bajo answered 15 August with calm, procedure and a same-day reopening — and our thoughts remain with the communities of central and eastern Flores as they recover. If you have a trip coming up or are planning one, explore our private trips and open trips, or ask us anything directly — contact us or message the team on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875. Written from Labuan Bajo by the Komodo Luxury team — our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck, and our boats returned to the water the same afternoon.
