Earthquake Volunteer in Manggarai Struck by Falling Tree While Delivering Aid

Humanitarian volunteer Adalbertus Gregorian Bambar, known as Berry Bambar, was struck by a falling tree while distributing aid to earthquake victims in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. Berry suffered fractures and lost consciousness at the scene before being evacuated to hospital.

Berry was hit by the falling tree on Monday (24/8/2026) at around 4.30 pm local time. He and five colleagues were delivering basic food packages and other donations to Ling, Golo Cador Village, Wae Ri’i District. Berry was struck by a large tree as he was preparing to start his motorbike. Other volunteers managed to run to safety as the tree fell and crushed their motorbikes.

“We had already handed over aid at the third house and were about to continue one by one to 27 other houses when a large tree that had dried out and tilted after the earthquake fell. It all happened suddenly because we were just about to start our motorbike engines,” said Ebertus Ngera Sega, coordinator of the Golo Cador Village Rapid Response Team, in a statement on Tuesday (25/8/2026) evening.

The volunteer team consisted of six people using three motorbikes. Besides Berry and Ebertus, the other volunteers were Reineldis Asni Yati Epin, Yohanes Fransiskus Naring, Patrisius Rundung, and Eprimus Jehanum.

They departed from Timung, their home hamlet also in Golo Cador Village, at around 3.30 pm local time. They had originally planned to leave for Ling at 2.00 pm but delayed their departure while waiting for strong winds to subside.

Fellow volunteer Yohanes explained that Berry, who had started his motorbike first with his back to the falling tree, was unable to run as quickly as the others. Berry, he said, lost consciousness beneath the tree debris.

Berry was subsequently evacuated from the fallen tree and taken to a kiosk near the scene. Two village midwives arrived to provide emergency treatment to Berry, who remained unconscious. The midwives measured his blood pressure and gave him tea to drink, but Berry had not yet regained consciousness.

The volunteers and family members then transported Berry to Ruteng Regional General Hospital. The main road to Ruteng, severely damaged after the earthquake, forced them to take an alternative route westwards towards Poco Village, along the Reo-Ruteng crossing.

From Ruteng Regional Hospital, Berry was transferred by ambulance to a field hospital. He was treated by doctors in an emergency tent at the field hospital and underwent surgery. Berry has since regained consciousness and is being treated at Ruteng Regional Hospital.