Indonesia was shaken by a series of earthquakes on August 15, with two powerful tremors reported across the country. One of the strongest earthquakes occurred near Flores Island, registering a magnitude of 7.7. The powerful quake prompted tsunami warnings in the region, raising concerns among residents and authorities.
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies at the meeting point of four major tectonic plates: the Australian Plate, Sunda Plate, Pacific Plate and Philippine Sea Plate. The movement and interaction of these plates beneath the Earth’s surface frequently generate seismic activity, making Indonesia one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions.
The earthquake near Flores on August 15 was mainly associated with the complex interaction between the Australian and Sunda plates. The Australian Plate is continuously moving northward and subducting beneath the Sunda Plate. This process, known as subduction, builds up immense pressure underground, which can eventually be released as powerful earthquakes.
