Strong Earthquake Hits Near Indonesia, No Tsunami Risk for Japan
Listen to the story
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck near Flores, an island in Indonesia, early on August 15, 2026.
The earthquake happened at around 6:58 in the morning, local time. A magnitude of 7.7 is considered very strong and can cause serious damage near its center.
After the earthquake, authorities checked whether it could cause a tsunami, a large ocean wave that can travel across long distances.
Officials in Japan confirmed that the earthquake would have no tsunami impact on the country. This means Japan did not need to issue any warnings for its coast.
Indonesia is located in a very active seismic region, where the movement of tectonic plates causes frequent earthquakes.
The epicenter, or the point on the surface above where the earthquake started, was near Flores Island.
News outlets, including Japanese media, quickly reported the event because strong earthquakes in the region can sometimes affect countries far away, including Japan.
In this case, however, experts found no danger of a tsunami reaching Japanese shores. This allowed people in Japan to feel reassured shortly after the news broke.
Details about damage or injuries in Indonesia were not included in the original report, so it remains unclear whether the earthquake caused harm on the ground.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, as aftershocks are common after such large earthquakes.
Vocabulary10 words
- earthquake
- a sudden strong shaking of the ground
- magnitude
- a number showing how strong an earthquake is
- tsunami
- a very large wave in the ocean, often caused by an earthquake
- seismic
- relating to earthquakes
- tectonic plates
- huge pieces of the Earth's surface that move slowly
- epicenter
- the exact place where an earthquake starts
- aftershocks
- smaller earthquakes that happen after a big one
- authorities
- people or groups in charge, like the government
- reassured
- made to feel less worried
- region
- a large area of land or the world
Quiz
Answer key
1. Near Flores, Indonesia 2. 7.7 3. No, there was no tsunami impact
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A powerful _____ with a _____ of 7.7 struck near Flores, an island in Indonesia, early on August 15, 2026.
The earthquake happened at around 6:58 in the morning, local time. A magnitude of 7.7 is considered very strong and can cause serious _____ near its center.
After the earthquake, authorities checked whether it could cause a _____, a large ocean wave that can travel across long distances.
Officials in Japan confirmed that the earthquake would have no tsunami _____ on the country. This means Japan did not need to issue any warnings for its coast.
Indonesia is located in a very active _____ region, where the movement of _____ causes frequent earthquakes.
The _____, or the point on the surface above where the earthquake started, was near Flores Island.
News outlets, including Japanese media, quickly reported the event because strong earthquakes in the region can sometimes affect countries far away, including Japan.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, as _____ are common after such large earthquakes.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Japan monitors earthquakes that happen in other countries?
- What steps do you think authorities take when checking for tsunami danger?
- Why is Indonesia prone to frequent earthquakes?
- How might people in coastal areas prepare for possible tsunamis?