BNPB: NTT Provincial Government Prepares Emergency Response Status Following Earthquake
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has revealed that the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial government is processing the paperwork to declare a disaster emergency response status. This follows the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday (15/8/2026).
“Responding to the disaster escalation, the NTT Provincial Government is processing a decree to establish an emergency response status for the next 14 days,” said BNPB Acting Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, on Sunday (16/8/2026).
Berton stated that similar measures have also been officially taken at the affected regency and city level. Manggarai Regency has established a Disaster Emergency Response status for 90 days (15 August–13 November 2026) through Regent Decree No. 319 of 2026, followed by the establishment of a command post through Decree No. 320 of 2026.
Ngada Regency has imposed a Disaster Emergency Response period and established a Command Post for 30 days (15 August–15 September 2026) through Regent Decrees No. 441 and No. 442/KEP/HK/2026.
“Furthermore, East Manggarai Regency has also established a Disaster Alert status until 4 September 2026 through Regent Decree Number HK/141/Year 2026,” said Berton.
Berton said that to date, joint teams and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) remain on standby, combing locations to conduct further data collection and verification. To support emergency medical services, one field hospital has been established and is operating in Reok District, Manggarai Regency.
Regarding logistics mobility and evacuation access, the Larantuka-Maumere overland route is reported to be connected and passable. “However, the handling team is still trying to find alternative routes because the land road connecting Ende-Nagekeo remains cut off due to the earthquake,” said Berton.
The earthquake disaster has forced more than 5,000 people in NTT to flee their homes. The disaster has also claimed 47 lives and triggered massive building damage.
From data updated as of Sunday (16/8/2026) at 00.00 WIB, the largest concentration of displaced people in NTT is currently in Sikka Regency, with a total of 3,356 people. They are spread across the Samador Sports Hall, with 1,356 people, and 2,000 people sheltering independently at 10 evacuation points. Meanwhile, in Manggarai Regency, the number of displaced people has reached 2,078. Hundreds of other displaced people have also been reported in Nagekeo, totalling 500 people, and in two areas in different provinces, namely Bima and the Selayar Islands.
The earthquake, which has been followed by 341 aftershocks, has triggered significant destruction. The disaster claimed the lives of 47 people, with the highest number of fatalities in Manggarai Regency at 23 and East Manggarai at 17. Other fatalities were spread across Sikka Regency with 4, West Manggarai with 1, Ende with 1, and Nagekeo with 1. At least 101 residents were reported injured with varying degrees of severity.
In addition to the loss of life, the earthquake, which was centred at sea, caused material losses that have paralysed community activities. Preliminary data in the NTT region recorded 914 houses suffering heavy damage, 126 moderate damage, and 317 light damage. Severe damage also affected dozens of public facilities, including 93 educational facilities, 36 health facilities, and 38 government offices.