BNPB Official Clarifies Viral Interview on NTT Earthquake from Café
A video interview of a National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) official on a private television station has become a topic of discussion on social media. The official was virally shown giving an online interview statement from a café. The BNPB official has now spoken out and revealed the facts behind the interview.
In the circulating video, seen on Tuesday (25/8/2026), the official was in one corner of the dining establishment while providing information regarding the handling of the earthquake in NTT. The video then sparked speculation, particularly among netizens. They questioned the position of the BNPB official, who was considered not to be at the earthquake location.
Contacted separately, Plt Kapusdatin BNPB Berton SP Panjaitan said that the BNPB official in the viral video was himself. He said the interview was conducted on Thursday (20/8) last week at 20.00 WIB at a restaurant near Labuan Bajo Airport.
“We understand the circulating video and the perception that subsequently emerged on social media. However, we need to clarify the context. At the time the video was made, the BNPB official in question was carrying out public communication duties, namely giving a live interview to a national private television station regarding the development of the NTT earthquake handling. The activity was conducted at night, outside office working hours,” said Berton.
Berton explained that the restaurant where he conducted the online interview was only 10 steps away from Labuan Bajo Airport. In the context of the NTT earthquake handling, Labuan Bajo was not merely a stopover point, but one of the important hubs of BNPB operations.
“We need to look at the context of the location. Labuan Bajo at that time was not just a stopover point, but was one of the important nodes of BNPB operations, including the reception and distribution of logistics for the western Flores region,” he said.
“So, a person’s presence at that location cannot be directly interpreted as meaning that the person concerned was not working or was not within the chain of disaster handling operations,” he continued.
According to Berton, during a disaster emergency, the work of BNPB personnel does not stop at office hours. Coordination, data monitoring, decision-making, and public communication occur around the clock. He added that BNPB has also clearly divided the tasks of each of its personnel in every disaster emergency response.
“We also need to distinguish between personnel who have direct field duties and officials who carry out coordination and communication functions. Both are part of one disaster handling system,” said Berton.
Furthermore, Berton hoped the public would be wiser in sorting the information circulating. He said BNPB personnel have responsibility for disaster handling in the field, as well as conveying accurate information to the public.
“Most importantly, at that time the person concerned was conveying information to the public regarding the NTT earthquake handling. We do not want the public to receive incorrect information just because they saw a video clip without context,” concluded Berton.