DPR Expresses Condolences over NTT Earthquake, Coordinates Aid and Victim Evacuation

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has reminded the government that public safety must be the priority in handling the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Dasco urged residents in NTT affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake to follow the guidance of the government through the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and local administrations.

“Public safety is the top priority. Residents in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and follow official information from BMKG, BNPB, and local governments,” Dasco said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday (15/8/2026).

Dasco confirmed that the DPR RI leadership would immediately coordinate with the council’s working bodies, particularly the relevant commissions in the legislature, including legislators from the NTT electoral district, to promptly assist and meet the needs of residents affected by the natural disaster.

“As a leader of the DPR RI, I will encourage coordination with the relevant commissions and DPR members from the affected regions so that the community’s needs, from evacuation, healthcare, and logistics to facility restoration, can be addressed immediately,” he stressed.

Finally, the Daily Chairman of the Gerindra Party expressed his deepest condolences to the victims, including residents of NTT and surrounding areas affected by the earthquake. He prayed that those affected would be granted strength and safety.

“I express my condolences and concern over the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara. May all affected residents be granted strength and safety,” Dasco asserted.

Previously, the Director of Engineering Seismology, Potential Geophysics, and Time Signals at BMKG, Teguh Rahayu, presented the initial monitoring results from the Kupang Geophysics Station and coordination with the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) regarding the impact of the earthquake’s intensity scale. The results showed that the tremors brought down parts of the walls of simple houses in the Maumere, West Manggarai, and Labuan Bajo areas. In addition, the earthquake also damaged facilities at Maumere Port and the Jayakarta Bajo Hotel building.