BNPB activates Media Center to prevent disinformation on NTT earthquake response

Starting today, every afternoon at 5pm WITA, the Media Center will begin operating to provide day-to-day information.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has activated an official Media Center to present transparent and integrated data updates on the handling of the earthquake impact in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

BNPB Head Suharyanto said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday that the operation of the Media Center is intended to provide regular updates, while also reducing the confusion of disinformation circulating among the public.

“Starting today, every afternoon at 5pm WITA, the Media Center will begin operating to provide day-to-day information. The confusion of information that often occurs in the field can be minimised by providing official information every afternoon,” he said.

BNPB hopes that the existence of this official information channel can help journalists and the public obtain accurate, verified and accountable data during the emergency response period.

The BNPB Head will also directly command the Main National Assistance Post in Labuan Bajo and the Tactical Post in Maumere.

The division of these two operational areas is designed to reach all affected districts in western and eastern Flores quickly, precisely and evenly.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Nagekeo, NTT, on Saturday (15/8), forced more than 5,000 people to evacuate. The disaster also claimed 47 lives and triggered massive damage to buildings.