BNPB Urges Six Regions to Immediately Declare Emergency Status After NTT Earthquake

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto has requested that emergency status be immediately declared in areas affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This status is important so that the central government has a legal basis to intervene.

BNPB, together with ministries, agencies, and regional governments, held a coordination meeting at the West Manggarai Regent’s Office in NTT on Sunday (16/8/2026).

The Head of BNPB urged the regional governments of six severely affected districts—Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Ende, Nagekeo, and Sikka—as well as the NTT Provincial Government to immediately issue official emergency status declarations. According to him, the certainty of this legal emergency status is vital so that 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 BNPB, related ministries and agencies from Public Works and others can provide maximum assistance,” Suharyanto stressed.

In addition, BNPB requested the acceleration of the establishment of Task Force Posts at the district/city and provincial levels by optimising the role of TNI-Polri elements as task force commanders. The establishment of these regional emergency posts is 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 TNI and Polri Unit Commanders as field commanders. Including the Governor, to control the affected districts, please also immediately establish a provincial post,” he instructed.

To support handling at the regional level, the Head of BNPB directly commanded 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 districts in western and eastern Flores quickly, precisely, and evenly.

“We are establishing the first National Provincial Assistance Post, with its centre here in Labuan Bajo. Then, because the area is vast, we are also opening a post in Maumere to serve Sikka, Nagekeo, and Ngada. These two points are expected to oversee all disaster management steps,” he explained.