Hundreds of Homes Damaged by NTT Earthquake, BNPB Urges Residents to Report Damage

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has recorded hundreds of homes damaged by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday (15/8).

BNPB Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari detailed that 154 units suffered severe damage, 49 units moderate damage, and 38 units light damage. Abdul said the data remains dynamic and will continue to develop.

“We will accelerate the calculation, verification and validation of this data so that administrative processes related to the by-name, by-address identification of affected residents who are entitled to government support for repairing damaged homes can be carried out immediately,” Abdul said at a press conference on Sunday (16/8).

Abdul urged residents in affected areas to check the condition of their homes and pay attention to possible structural damage, cracked pillars, detached corners of houses, and roof truss supports that have shifted or are no longer in position.

“If our fellow citizens in the affected areas have post-earthquake home conditions like those described, please report immediately to the nearest RT, RW, or village officials, or to the local BPBD office,” he said.

On that occasion, he said that based on reports from PLN, a number of areas that experienced power outages on the first day of the earthquake have begun to receive electricity again.

“But we still urge that if there are still areas experiencing outages, please report immediately through the BNPB call centre 117 so that we can coordinate with PLN for steps to restore electricity supply,” he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, the total death toll from the earthquake stood at 53. The breakdown is 1 in West Manggarai Regency, 20 in East Manggarai, 25 in Manggarai Regency, 1 in Nagekeo, 4 in Sikka, and 2 in Ende.

“For injured victims currently being treated at nearby health facilities, the total is 135, consisting of 12 in Sikka, 17 seriously injured and 20 lightly injured in Manggarai, 21 seriously injured and 59 lightly injured in East Manggarai, and 6 seriously injured in West Manggarai,” he said.