Palace: Prabowo Planning Visit to NTT
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to earthquake-affected areas in East Nusa Tenggara is still in the planning stage. The government is considering on-the-ground readiness before scheduling the head of state’s departure.
Speaking at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday evening, Prasetyo explained that visits to disaster areas require special preparation. This is because conditions at affected locations differ significantly from ordinary working visits.
“It is being planned, but we also need to convey that sometimes in the early stages, conditions on the ground lead us to choose to focus more on addressing the problems first,” Prasetyo said.
Prasetyo stressed that the central government continues to monitor disaster response developments every day. Regular reports are received from various ministries and relevant agencies, including the National Search and Rescue Agency and the National Disaster Management Agency.
Regarding the possibility of a visit taking place this week, the Palace remains flexible. “We will see, we will see the conditions on the ground,” he added.
On that occasion, the State Secretary also expressed appreciation to regional governments that have shown solidarity by sending aid to East Nusa Tenggara, including the Central Java Provincial Government. According to him, inter-regional collaboration is tangible proof of national solidarity in facing disasters.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake previously shook the East Nusa Tenggara region in the early hours of Saturday. Although it briefly triggered a tsunami early warning, the alert status ended on the morning of the same day.
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his staff to provide the best possible response for affected communities. Through his official social media account, the President emphasised that the safety and fulfilment of residents’ basic needs are the top priority.
The President also asked relevant officials to go directly to the location to ensure post-earthquake response is swift, well-targeted, and maximised for all residents affected by the disaster.