Chinese Tourists Injured in NTT Earthquake
China’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a number of its citizens were injured in the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday morning (15/8). The Chinese government, through its consular office in Denpasar, has activated an emergency response mechanism to provide protection for its nationals.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed deep condolences over the loss of life in the disaster. “As far as I know, there are several Chinese citizens who suffered injuries as a result of the earthquake,” Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday (17/8).
Based on the latest data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the impact of the earthquake has been significant. BNPB chief Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto reported that as of Saturday at 3.00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, 38 people had been recorded dead and around 2,000 people affected.
In the tourism sector, the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF) recorded that a number of accommodation facilities suffered damage of varying degrees. The Ministry of Tourism is currently focusing on handling the super-priority destination areas of Flores, Alor, Lembata and Bima (Floratama). A total of 986 tourists who had been stranded on Padar Island due to the suspension of shipping services were successfully returned to Labuan Bajo safely after the Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) issued a notice reopening services.
Regarding Chinese nationals, two tourists were reported injured while staying at the Jayakarta Hotel and have received medical treatment at Siloam Labuan Bajo Hospital. All hotel guests in the affected area have been evacuated to safe points such as Natas Parapuar and the Komodo Regional General Hospital grounds.
Komodo Airport operations have resumed with technical restrictions, while shipping services are being reopened gradually. Electricity and internet networks in most accommodation facilities have been reported to have returned to normal.