BNPB Urges Six NTT Regencies to Immediately Declare Emergency Status Following Earthquake

The Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, is urging local governments in six regencies in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) severely affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake to immediately issue official emergency status declarations.

The six regencies are Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Ende, Nagekeo, and Sikka, along with the Provincial Government of NTT.

According to him, the certainty of this emergency legal status is vital so that the BNPB, the Ministry of Public Works, and related agencies have a legal basis to channel budget support and technical assistance maximally to the affected areas.

“Please issue the emergency status today. This emergency status is needed so that the BNPB, related ministries/agencies from Public Works and others can provide maximum assistance,” said Suharyanto in a written statement on Sunday (16/8).

In addition, there are seven other measures instructed by the BNPB. In line with the status determination, in the second point the Head of BNPB requested the acceleration of the establishment of Task Force Posts (Posko) at the regency/city to provincial level by optimising the role of TNI-Polri elements as task force commanders.

The establishment of regional emergency posts is considered crucial so that all tactical movements, refugee management, and logistics distribution at the local level can be controlled under one integrated command.

“The Regent may appoint the TNI and Polri Unit Commander as the field commander. Including the Governor, to control the affected regencies, please also immediately establish a provincial Post,” he said.

To support handling at the regional level, the third point stipulates that the Head of BNPB directly commands the establishment of the Main National Assistance Post in Labuan Bajo and a Tactical Post in Maumere.

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

“We are establishing a National Post for Provincial Assistance with its first centre here in Labuan Bajo. Then because of the vast area, we are also opening a Post in Maumere to serve Sikka, Nagekeo, and Ngada. These two points are expected to cover all disaster handling measures,” he said.

To ensure the availability of logistical assistance from outside the region, in the fourth point the Head of BNPB coordinated the opening of a National Logistics Post at Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta.

This centralised collection post is tasked with receiving and distributing various types of assistance from ministries, agencies, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, and the general public directly to reception points in Flores via air routes.

“Members of the public or parties who wish to help can all go through the National Post which is now established at Halim Perdanakusuma. From Halim it will go to Labuan Bajo, and can also go to Maumere,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the fifth point, regarding the safety of residents, Suharyanto instructed all joint teams under the coordination of Basarnas to lead the search and rescue (SAR) until no more victims are trapped or missing.

The operation to comb through the rubble is being accelerated together with TNI, Polri, and volunteer elements until the affected locations are declared completely safe.

“We ask the Head of Basarnas, in accordance with the law, to directly lead the search and rescue process. We ask TNI-Polri elements and volunteers to join under the leadership of the Head of Basarnas,” he said.

Sixth, Suharyanto is targeting the restoration of vital facilities such as electricity networks, clean water, fuel, and communications to function normally on a limited basis within 7 days, while also emphasising that data collection on damage to residents’ homes be carried out in parallel without waiting for the emergency response period to end.

Rapid initial data collection is urgently needed so that the construction scheme for Temporary Housing (Huntara) or home repairs can be executed immediately.

“I ask that you do not wait until the emergency response is complete. Please begin data collection in parallel. Once it is clear, we will immediately determine the construction, so that data collection does not drag on once again,” he said.

Then in the seventh point, the Head of BNPB coordinated the deployment of cross-agency defence equipment, including helicopter fleets and naval vessels belonging to the TNI, Basarnas, and BNPB. All air and sea defence equipment is fully focused on penetrating the most difficult points to transport food supplies, blankets, and refugee tents.

“From the TNI there are 4 helicopters and naval vessels, Basarnas is deploying ships and aircraft, and BNPB has 2 wide-body aircraft and 1 helicopter. We are focusing this defence equipment on logistics distribution,” he said.

Finally, he instructed the operation of an official Media Centre that holds regular press briefings every afternoon at 17.00 WITA.

“Starting today, every afternoon at 17.00 WITA, the Media Centre will begin operating to provide day-to-day information. The frequent occurrence of conflicting information in the field can be minimised by providing official information every afternoon,” said Suharyanto.