NTT Disaster Agency's Logistics Warehouse Empty During M7.7 Earthquake
The head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto, has revealed that the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) regional disaster agency (BPBD) had no logistics stock when the Flores earthquake occurred. The situation is considered to have made it difficult for the regional government to provide assistance in the early stages of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Saturday (15/8).
Suharyanto made the remarks before President Prabowo Subianto during a visit to the earthquake-affected area in Nagekeo Regency on Wednesday (26/8/2026). The coordination meeting was attended by ministry officials, the TNI, the National Police, the Governor of NTT, and district heads.
“On this occasion, may I suggest one thing, Mr President. Firstly, when a disaster occurs, this region cannot do anything, Mr President,” Suharyanto said.
According to Suharyanto, the NTT BPBD had no reserve logistics stock at the initial moment of the disaster. As a result, initial aid could not be immediately distributed to affected communities.
“Because the BPBD logistics warehouses were indeed empty. Fortunately, Mr President provided Rp20 billion in assistance, which greatly helped the regional government,” he explained.
Suharyanto also highlighted the weak coordination and logistics of the BPBD in NTT. According to him, the situation differs from the BNPB, which can move directly under the President’s command.
“We arrived after that, within 1x24 hours. The BNPB is the President’s instrument; we have no command relationship with the BPBD. Meanwhile, the BNPB is strong under the President, so we can do anything, but the instruments of the governor and district heads are weak because they have nothing to provide assistance with,” he explained.
He said the absence of basic assistance such as staple food packages was the most prominent issue on the ground from the first day of the earthquake on Flores Island.
“They should have been able to provide basic assistance. Food supplies, then we would come and distribute logistics. That is what stood out, Mr President. Please make this a concern going forward,” he said.
Suharyanto then proposed that every district and city in NTT maintain a logistics buffer stock worth Rp5 billion to Rp10 billion. The stock could be used to provide food supplies, staple goods, tents, and mattresses that could be distributed immediately when a disaster occurs.
“Delays like this cause people to cry out for one or two days that they have not been helped. We have not received assistance, where is the government, even though this is ongoing,” he stressed.
President Prabowo Promises Help for Logistics Warehouses
Responding to the proposal, President Prabowo Subianto stated that the central government is ready to help ensure that every province and district has a reserve logistics warehouse.
“So your suggestion is that the provincial-level BPBD should have its own food warehouse. Later, districts will also have their own. We will help every province, so that governors have warehouses and food preparations, as do district heads. That is how it should be; district heads and governors should have reserve granaries, but if they do not yet have the initiative, we will do it,” Prabowo said in response to the BNPB chief’s statement.
Meanwhile, NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena also acknowledged the situation. He said that after the disaster, the NTT provincial government used community instruments through a shop and kiosk scheme to distribute basic needs first, with the government paying later.
“And thank God, in difficult areas such as Palue, they helped,” he said.