BNPB Data Update: Death Toll from NTT Earthquake Reaches 38

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto stated that as of Saturday at 15.00 Western Indonesian Time, 38 people had been recorded as having died as a result of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. “The death toll recorded up to 15.00 today is 38 people,” said Suharyanto during an online press conference in Jakarta on Saturday (15/8). Two people suffered serious injuries and 11 others sustained minor injuries. In addition, approximately 2,000 people have been displaced independently. The agency also recorded several roads that had suffered landslides due to the earthquake, and dozens of residents’ houses sustained heavy, moderate, and light damage. Regarding health facilities, one hospital in Maumere was recorded as having suffered damage, and many community health centres were damaged. “The Minister of Health also informed us that many community health centres were damaged, and only one hospital was damaged, namely in Maumere,” said Suharyanto. Meanwhile, five airports were affected. “There are five airports that were affected, but not the runways. The damage, whether it will be classified as light, moderate, or heavy, is in the terminal buildings, of which there are five,” he said. Two ports were also affected, namely Reo Port and Maumere Port. On that occasion, Suharyanto said that 31 aftershocks had occurred on Saturday following the main earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara. “The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has provided information that up to 15.00 today, 31 aftershocks have occurred,” said Suharyanto. Of the 31 aftershocks, four were recorded as having quite significant magnitudes, namely above M 5.0. “The first significant aftershock had a magnitude of 6.2 at 05.13, almost the same as the first earthquake, at a depth of 10 km and still located at sea,” he said. The second aftershock had a magnitude of 5.5 at 05.13 and 53 seconds, at a depth of 10 km below the sea. The third was an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 at a depth of 10 km below the sea at 05.28. The fourth aftershock had a magnitude of 5.6 at 05.37. “These significant aftershocks occurred in the morning. Since 07.00 this morning until now, there have been no more earthquakes with large magnitudes,” said Suharyanto. Previously, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Nagekeo Regency area of East Nusa Tenggara on Saturday at 04.58 Western Indonesian Time. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued a tsunami early warning, but the warning was later lifted at 07.30 Western Indonesian Time.