Hospital in Nagekeo After Earthquake: Cracked Rooms, Patients Treated in Hot Tents
RSUD Aeramo in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has been severely damaged by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake. This has forced health services, including patient operations, to be carried out in emergency tents.
detikBali visited RSUD Aeramo directly on Friday (21/8/2026). The condition is very severe, distressing, and endangers the safety of both patients and medical staff. Many parts of the building have collapsed and cracked.
The cracking has occurred in a number of rooms. Of the many rooms, only radiology is still operating indoors. The other rooms are no longer functioning because they are cracked and threaten the safety of staff.
As a precaution to ensure health services continue, the government and relevant agencies have erected a number of emergency tents used for patient treatment. However, not all of the tents are equipped with supporting facilities such as adequate floor coverings.
The situation is also worsened by the large amount of dust around the site, compounded by strong winds carrying dust.
On the other hand, the air temperature inside the emergency tents is very hot and makes patients uncomfortable. Some family members caring for patients have even been forced to sleep outside the tents with only a mat.
“I am uncomfortable because it is hot inside,” said one patient on Friday.
The Head of the Perinatal NICU/NHCU Room at RSUD Aeramo, Maria Imaculata Kurniawati, explained that patient care under current conditions is not very effective because the air is hot and cleanliness is not optimal.
“Because there is dust inside the emergency tent. The air is also hot,” said Maria when met amid handling a baby.
According to Maria, the NICU room in particular urgently needs cooling or air conditioning. However, the main need is a clean and sterile room. Under these conditions, Maria and fellow medical staff are trying to ensure that services and medical treatment for patients remain effective.
“What else can we do. We cannot run away and leave this situation,” said Maria.