1,313 earthquake refugees in Flores, NTT under joint task force handling
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) states that 1,131 refugees from the earthquake in Flores Timur, East Nusa Tenggara, are currently being handled by a joint local task force.
Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, in Jakarta on Saturday, reported that the villages of Terong, Lamahala Jaya, Dawata, Karing Lamalouk, Waiwerang, and Ipi Ebang in Adonara Subdistrict, as well as Motonwutun and Watobuku in Solor Timur Subdistrict, have experienced significant impacts from the tectonic earthquake tremors.
BNPB has confirmed the latest data received up to 10:55 WIB, indicating 238 residential units in those villages damaged lightly to severely, along with three places of worship, four educational facilities, and two public facilities.
“Ten people have sustained minor injuries from the 285 affected families or 1,313 independent refugees. The latest information developments will be conveyed periodically,” he said.
Abdul assured that ongoing handling is being carried out by a joint task force consisting of BPBD, TNI, Polri, and related technical service officers from Flores Timur Regency and the Nusa Tenggara Timur Province.
“BPBD has already set up refugee tents and family tents at several accessible locations that are safe from potential follow-up disasters or other types of disasters,” he stated.
Based on the received data, Abdul noted that the affected residents currently prefer to set up independent tents near their homes, with some evacuating to relatives’ houses.
At night, a number of residents choose to sleep in tents near their homes for safety and security reasons, as aftershocks are still occurring.
“Refugee tents and family tents are currently an urgent need because previous tent stocks have been used for emergency handling of the Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption disaster. The NTT Provincial BPBD and BNPB are currently distributing tent needs, logistics, and other required equipment there,” he said.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) previously reported a magnitude 4.7 earthquake occurring in the early hours of Wednesday (8/4).
The earthquake was located about 21 kilometres southeast of Larantuka, with the epicentre on land at a depth of five kilometres. Shaking was felt quite strongly for two to four seconds by residents in the affected areas.
BMKG even recorded, based on vibration sensor system monitoring results, 48 aftershock activities, which are still being felt by residents on the coast of Adonara Island up to now.