NTT Earthquake Impact: Death Toll Rises to 47
A rapid assessment of the impact of the M7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is still being carried out by joint personnel. To date, 47 residents have died and hundreds of homes have been damaged.
Based on provisional data on Saturday (15/8) at 18.48 WIB, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) released a total death toll of 47 people.
“The distribution of victims was identified in Manggarai Regency with 24 people, East Manggarai 17 people, Sikka 3 people, Ngada 1 person and Ende 1 person. In addition to these victims, officers evacuated and provided medical treatment to the injured,” explained Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, in his statement on Saturday (15/8).
Provisional data from earlier in the afternoon, at 17.00 WIB, showed that the total number of heavily damaged houses reached 157 units, moderately damaged 41 units and lightly damaged 148 units. Damage also occurred to public facilities, such as 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, 5 places of worship, 6 offices and a number of other public facilities.
“Responding to the earthquake in NTT, BNPB sent food and non-food aid to the disaster area. A number of aid items were dispatched through the logistics warehouse located in East Flores Regency, NTT,” he said.
Meanwhile, from Jakarta, BNPB also sent aid through the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base operations base. The total aid amounted to 50,000 packages weighing 275 tonnes. Currently, the aid that has just arrived at the base operations totals 10,500 packages, originating from the Cabinet Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the earthquake tremors were also felt by residents of Bima Regency and City, West Nusa Tenggara Province, and Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi Province.
The condition of the community in Bima Regency and City is generally conducive. The Bima City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) is collecting data and verifying the situation on the ground. The BNPB Operations Control Centre received reports that in the Selayar Islands, the local BPBD had established evacuation posts at three points. The evacuation distribution is located in Pasimarannu, Pasilambena and Takabonerate Districts.