Displaced Residents in East Manggarai Burn Tents

Displaced residents affected by the earthquake in Kampung Tengku Leda, Lamba Leda District, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), set fire to several emergency tents provided by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Monday (24/8/2026).

The action was taken because residents were disappointed that they were not met by one of the regional heads who sent aid to the area. The regional head only met with displaced residents in Kampung Lamba Keli, which is about one kilometre from Kampung Tengku Leda. He came to East Manggarai to see the impact of the earthquake and distribute aid to affected communities.

Video of residents burning the tents went viral on social media. In the video seen by detikBali, the tents were burned in the middle of a field. Hundreds of people could be seen around the burning tents.

“Burn it,” shouted a resident.

In another video, a number of residents vented their anger at the Lamba Leda District government and security forces.

“We are disappointed at being pushed around,” said a man in the video.

Another man said they had been waiting since morning to meet the regional head.

“Pity our wives, our babies. We have been waiting here since morning. What do we get? Is this how it is, sir? Don’t make things difficult for us,” the man demanded.

Lamba Leda District Head Vitalis Edmundus Buru Lana confirmed the incident. Vitalis said two BNPB aid tents were burned by residents. He deeply regretted that the incident occurred.

“What I know is that the tents were burned. The tents from the district, the family tents from BNPB. That is what we regret,” said Vitalis.

He confirmed that the burning was triggered by residents’ disappointment at not being met. Vitalis explained that the regional head had previously planned to meet earthquake-affected residents in Kampung Lamba Keli and Tengku Leda with a one-hour time allocation. Affected residents in each village were planned to be met for 30 minutes each.

However, conditions on the ground did not match the plan. The one-hour visit time was used up in Kampung Lamba Keli. He then continued his visit agenda to other places, such as reviewing the community health centre and others.

“We spent too long in Lamba Keli earlier, a lot of time was cut in Lamba Keli, so there was no time to stop by Tengku Leda. So that was an expression of disappointment from the residents, they did not meet with him, that was an expression of disappointment,” Vitalis explained.

Vitalis and security forces then met with Tengku Leda residents. He said he explained what had happened. According to him, the situation there is now conducive.

“We have clarified it and it is now conducive, immediately calm,” Vitalis concluded.