East Flores Declares Four-Month Emergency Response to Earthquake Disaster

The East Flores Regency government (Pemkab Flores Timur) has declared a state of emergency for the natural disaster of the earthquake for the next four months. This is in accordance with the regent’s decree dated 9 April 2026. “The declaration of the emergency response status for the natural disaster of the earthquake with the Regent of East Flores’ decision is effective from 9 April to 8 July 2026,” said the Secretary of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Flores, Aris Tokan, on Saturday (11/6/2026). Aris stated that the emergency response status for the natural disaster can be extended after consideration and reports from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The emergency status is expected to allow the regency government to take quick handling measures. “The regional government is expected to take swift steps to address the earthquake disaster in East Flores,” he added. It is known that a shallow earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 4.7 that shook East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday night (8/4/2026) damaged 257 houses. As many as 1,313 residents from eight villages in two sub-districts had to evacuate. Eighteen people were injured due to the disaster. Until now, aftershocks are still occurring continuously. The Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Flores, Ita Tukan, detailed that the largest number of earthquake victims came from Terong Village with 621 people. Then, Lamahala Jaya Village (544 people), Waiwerang Kota (18), Karing Lamalouk (4), Dawa Ta’a (31), Ipi Ebang (8), Motong Wutun (55), and Watobuku (32).