No More Reports of Missing Persons After NTT Earthquake
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has reported that there are no longer any reports of missing residents following the magnitude 7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Nevertheless, Basarnas teams remain on standby in the field.
“Basarnas teams are still on standby in seven affected districts. As of today, 17 August, there are no longer any reports of missing residents in the affected areas. However, even though there are no further reports, Basarnas teams continue to carry out search efforts and deploy personnel optimally in the affected areas,” said BNPB Acting Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, during a press conference on Monday (17/8/2026).
Berton also stated that the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has dispatched two field hospital units to the areas affected by the NTT earthquake. He expressed hope that the field hospitals would be able to quickly serve residents who have become victims of the earthquake.
“The Ministry of Health has sent two field hospital units to Ruteng, Manggarai Regency and Nagekeo Regency. It is hoped that these hospitals will be able to serve our residents who are victims of the earthquake and those who must be evacuated,” said Berton.
“This is because many hospitals and community health centres have been affected by the earthquake,” he added.
As is known, an earthquake struck NTT on Saturday (15/8). The tremor caused fatalities, building damage, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
Based on data released by BNPB yesterday afternoon, the latest death toll stands at 68 people.
“68 people have died,” said Berton SP Panjaitan on Monday (17/8/2026).
“We continue to monitor the number of victims and will report further if additional victims are found,” he added.
The fatalities are located across East Manggarai Regency and Ngada Regency. Meanwhile, the number of injured stands at 213 people.
“The number of injured currently found is 213 people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government is optimistic that it can manage the impact of the disaster based on periodic reports from the field. The government has also prepared logistical assistance, temporary housing (huntara), and permanent housing (huntap).
“Not yet (opening assistance from other countries),” said Prasetyo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (17/8/2026).
“We will see, because based on the daily reports we receive from colleagues monitoring the field, everything can still be handled well,” said Prasetyo.
“Both logistical needs, evacuation, and even plans for repairing temporary and permanent housing are already in the identification process,” he added.
Logistical assistance and basic necessities continue to arrive in NTT, including food aid in the form of rice worth Rp 75.4 billion.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has instructed Bulog to consolidate food aid to the disaster area. The food aid worth Rp 75.4 billion is being provided to four districts in NTT, totalling 5,386 tonnes, consisting of disaster assistance and regular food assistance.
“In conditions like this, the state is present and moving quickly. We ensure that rice assistance is distributed to help meet the food needs of communities affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara,” said Amran in his statement on Monday (17/8/2026).
The assistance is being provided to Manggarai Regency, East Manggarai Regency, Ngada Regency, and Sikka Regency. In detail, Manggarai Regency is receiving 31.63 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,799 tonnes of regular food assistance. East Manggarai Regency is receiving 153 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,661 tonnes of regular food assistance.
Furthermore, Ngada Regency is receiving 8.06 tonnes of disaster assistance and 444.21 tonnes of regular food assistance, while Sikka Regency is receiving 6.88 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,281.36 tonnes of regular food assistance.
Specifically for disaster assistance, the total rice allocated amounts to 200.35 tonnes. This assistance is directed at supporting the food needs of communities directly affected and in emergency conditions.
According to Amran, with this assistance, government support is not only focused on food needs during the emergency response period. The government is also ensuring that regular food assistance continues so that communities in affected areas continue to receive support in meeting their food needs.
“Food handling in disaster situations must not stop at emergency assistance. We must also ensure that communities continue to have access to food after the emergency response period. Therefore, we maintain disaster assistance and regular food assistance simultaneously,” explained Amran.