NTT Earthquake Update: 47 Dead, Homes and Airports Damaged
The death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake centred in Nagakeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province in the early hours of Saturday (15/8) WIB has reached 47 people.
Based on provisional data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of Saturday at 18:48 WIB, the fatalities are spread across Manggarai Regency with 24 people, East Manggarai 17 people, Sikka 3 people, Ngada 1 person, and Ende 1 person.
Meanwhile, as of Saturday afternoon at 17:00 WIB, a total of 157 houses were recorded as severely damaged, 41 moderately damaged and 148 lightly damaged.
Damage also occurred to public facilities, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, 5 places of worship, 6 offices and a number of other public facilities.
In addition, according to records from the Ministry of Transportation, five airports were affected by the earthquake.
Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation Lukman F. Laisa explained that some of the reported damage included cracks and damage to terminal buildings, administrative buildings, PKP-PK buildings, and other supporting facilities.
Furthermore, for Soa - Bajawa Airport, initial reports indicate moderate damage to the runway and a number of buildings and supporting facilities, including new cracks at several points.
In terms of flight navigation services, several service units were affected, namely the Labuan Bajo Sub-branch, Ende Sub-branch, Maumere Unit, Bajawa Unit, and Ruteng Unit.
“All flight navigation service personnel at the affected locations are reported to be safe,” said Lukman in an official statement on Saturday (15/8).
The following is a list of 5 airports reported to be affected:
Komodo Airport - Labuan Bajo;
H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport - Ende;
Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport - Waingapu;
Frans Sales Lega Airport - Ruteng; and
Soa - Bajawa Airport.
In the road infrastructure sector, the Ministry of Public Works (PU) through the NTT National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) reported landslides identified on three road sections.
Based on provisional reports on Saturday, the three sections are Ruteng-Km 210 with three points, Km 210-Manggarai Regency border with one point, and Aegela-Ende City border with eight points.
To keep access functional, a number of heavy equipment has been mobilised, including loaders and excavators at handling points in the relevant work areas.