AHY Issues Directives Following NTT Earthquake, Expresses Deep Condolences to Victims

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has outlined the government’s steps in handling the impact of the earthquake that recently struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). He said the government is prioritising the evacuation process and ensuring no areas remain isolated, as well as restoring basic infrastructure.

AHY said that Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo had immediately travelled to the disaster area from the first day to ensure heavy equipment was deployed promptly, particularly to assist with the evacuation process.

“The earthquake or natural disaster that has just struck our friends and brothers and sisters in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), of course since the first day I have been communicating and coordinating with the Minister of Public Works, who flew directly to the disaster area to ensure heavy equipment is deployed immediately. First and foremost, of course, to assist with the evacuation process,” AHY said at a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

AHY said the government also mourns the victims of the disaster. However, he said the evacuation process must take precedence.

“We are truly grieving the loss, but evacuation must be the number one priority,” he said.

After the evacuation process, the government is also ensuring that no areas remain isolated due to infrastructure damage. Roads that are cut off or affected by landslides will be cleared and addressed immediately.

“Secondly, ensuring that no areas remain isolated, that broken and blocked roads, which may have experienced major or severe landslides, must be cleared and addressed immediately,” he said.

The next stage is the restoration of basic infrastructure needed by the community. AHY said access to water and electricity must be ensured again as soon as possible.

“And thirdly, restoring basic infrastructure: water, electricity, and so on. This must be ensured, because it is the most fundamental thing for the community,” he said.

According to AHY, restoring infrastructure access is important so that aid to affected communities can flow more smoothly. He said experience from previous disaster responses shows that areas isolated due to cut-off roads make aid distribution difficult.

“Once that is in place, logistical aid, food and medicine can flow more smoothly. Because learning from the experience of past disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, when areas become isolated due to cut-off roads, it becomes very difficult for officers to provide logistical aid, food and medicine. And this is what we must prioritise,” AHY concluded.