Government Sends 27 Tonnes of Logistics and 3,500 TNI/Polri Personnel on Day of Earthquake
The government moved swiftly to address the impact of the earthquake that struck several areas in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, acting on the very day of the disaster. The magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the region on Saturday (15/8/2026) at 05.58 WITA.
On the same day, logistical aid and joint personnel were immediately deployed to ensure the needs of affected communities were promptly met while supporting evacuation and recovery efforts.
By Saturday evening, the government had dispatched a total of 27 tonnes of logistics to several affected areas in NTT. The aid was sent in stages using multiple Hercules flight rotations on the same day.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that logistics deliveries continued to ensure aid could be received promptly by communities in need.
“This is the final rotation of Saturday’s flights. Of the total 27 tonnes of logistics, all have been sent to NTT through various Hercules flight rotations on the same day,” Teddy said, as quoted from the official Cabinet Secretariat account @sekretariat.kabinet on Sunday (16/8/2026).
In addition to logistical aid, the government also deployed personnel to support operations on the ground. More than 3,500 TNI and Polri personnel were dispatched to various areas in Flores on Saturday (15/8/2026).
“Furthermore, on the day of the incident itself, the TNI-Polri deployed more than 3,500 personnel to various regions on Saturday, spread across Manggarai, Maumere, Flores, and other affected areas in NTT,” Teddy said.
The rapid response was part of President Prabowo Subianto’s directive encouraging cross-sector cooperation in handling the post-earthquake situation.
The President ordered a number of ministries and agencies to move immediately to NTT on the day of the incident to ensure that operations on the ground proceeded quickly and accurately.
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Public Works, the Head of BNPB, the Head of Basarnas, the Deputy Minister of Health, and the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs were deployed together with elements from PLN, Pertamina, and Telkom.
The presence of these various elements is expected to accelerate the handling of community needs, from aid and evacuation to the restoration of affected basic services. The government has ensured that cross-sector coordination continues to be strengthened so that communities in affected areas can receive assistance quickly and according to their needs.
The government also continues to monitor conditions in various affected areas in NTT. With the support of personnel, logistics, and inter-agency coordination, post-earthquake handling is expected to proceed in a directed manner while providing a sense of security for the community.