61 UMY KKN Students in NTT Safe After Earthquake, University Assesses Repatriation
A total of 61 students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) undertaking community service (KKN) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have been confirmed safe after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the region. UMY is now carrying out an assessment to determine the continuation of the KKN programme.
Dr Al-Afik, a representative of UMY’s Directorate of Research and Community Service, said the university has asked field supervisors to conduct a thorough assessment of conditions on the ground. The results of this assessment will form the basis for UMY to decide whether the students remain at their locations and continue KKN activities as part of post-disaster response or are repatriated to Yogyakarta.
“If conditions on the ground do not allow it, the students will be withdrawn. However, an assessment will be carried out first to determine whether they can remain part of the response effort at the location,” Afik said in a written statement received by detikJogja on Saturday (15/8/2026).
Afik stressed that student safety is the primary consideration in determining the continuation of the KKN programme. The university will take into account field conditions and the supervisors’ assessment before making a decision.
Meanwhile, UMY KKN student representative Didan Oktanova Hermawan, known as Awan, said all students had evacuated to hilly areas following the tsunami warning. “Our group’s condition, thank God, is safe. During the third aftershock, everyone had prepared all essential belongings and then went together to the hills,” Awan said.
The 61 students are divided into two groups. The Gema Pelita Nusantara (GPN) group consists of 26 students stationed in Macang Tanggar Village, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency. The Proyek Ekspedisi Nusantara (PENA) group consists of 35 students stationed in Nanga Mbaling Village, Sambi Rampas District, East Manggarai Regency.
During the evacuation, women and vulnerable groups were prioritised. They were evacuated first along with local residents. Currently, the students and residents are in evacuation tents set up in the hilly areas. Field supervisors are also accompanying the students at each assignment location.
Awan said there has been no internal discussion yet regarding the continuation of the KKN programme. The students are currently focused on helping meet the needs of residents in the evacuation tents while awaiting instructions from field supervisors and the university. “We are still focused on the conditions at the evacuation site and awaiting further direction from the field supervisors and the university,” he said.