BNPB Chief Reveals Many NTT Residents Displaced Due to Fear of Aftershocks

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto has reported the latest data on the earthquake disaster that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Suharyanto said affected residents are still taking refuge because they are afraid of aftershocks that continue to occur. He made the remarks during a coordination meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto in Nagekeo, NTT, on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

“We report the data as of this afternoon, this is actually yesterday’s. Today the Head of BMKG already has new data, but yesterday’s data alone recorded 7,259 earthquakes,” Suharyanto said at the start of his report. He explained that the total number of earthquakes was counted since the major M 7.7 earthquake on 15 August. However, no aftershock exceeding that magnitude has been recorded.

“In the period from the 15th until yesterday, Mr President. But there have been no earthquakes above M 7.7. There was an M 6.2 earthquake, according to the Head of BMKG, which may be explained in more detail. Only the aftershocks numbered 142 yesterday, and now there have been 43 felt by the public, Mr President,” he said.

Suharyanto explained that the number of aftershocks has begun to decrease each day. However, he said affected residents are still taking refuge in tents to avoid the danger of building collapse should a large aftershock occur. “From the 15th until now, today there was only one. But this has caused many people to take refuge out of fear,” Suharyanto said.

“So actually the large number of displaced people is not because they were directly affected by the earthquake, but because there have been many aftershocks and they are afraid. There are also several issues circulating on social media stating that there will be a larger aftershock and even a tsunami. We continue to fight this, working together with all elements to provide explanations to the public,” he continued.