Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 07:25 AM

Minister, disaster agency chief head to quake-hit East Nusa Tenggara

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A.P. Dewi, Tegar Nurfitra

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno traveled to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Suharyanto after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores early Saturday.

BNPB Spokesman Berton SP Panjaitan confirmed the deployment and said the agency had sent a helicopter to deliver supplies and support emergency operations.

“Air support is important given NTT’s archipelagic geography and limited connectivity between regions,” Panjaitan said in Jakarta on Saturday.

BNPB also mobilized teams to help local governments assess damage, rescue victims, identify impacts and distribute essential supplies to affected communities.

Panjaitan said BNPB was providing logistics and equipment to support emergency operations in the field.

The shallow offshore earthquake prompted about 2,000 residents in Nagekeo District to evacuate after authorities issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.

The earthquake was centered in waters northeast of Mbay, the district capital, at a depth of 15 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in Bima on Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara.

Panjaitan said 14 people had died and 13 were injured as of 12:30 p.m. local time, with deaths reported in Sikka, Manggarai and East Manggarai Districts.

He also reported damage to more than 70 homes, five health facilities, one school, three places of worship, six government offices and a Bulog warehouse.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Melki Laka Lena said President Prabowo Subianto had ordered several ministers to oversee the emergency response directly.

“The Mbay earthquake hit northern Flores hardest, with severe impacts in Maumere, Ngada and Manggarai, as well as Nagekeo near the epicenter,” he said.

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