Prabowo mobilises government ranks to handle NTT earthquake victims

President Prabowo Subianto has assured that the government is providing maximum handling for communities affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) by mobilising relevant ranks and distributing basic needs assistance.

“We want to ensure our brothers and sisters there receive fast and maximum emergency handling,” said Prabowo via his Instagram account @prabowo, monitored in Jakarta on Sunday.

Prabowo said the government has prepared 50,000 basic food aid packages for communities affected by the NTT earthquake.

The aid began departing on Saturday (15/8) and is being distributed in stages to a number of affected areas.

The President also instructed cross-sector cooperation to ensure post-earthquake handling proceeds quickly and on target.

In addition, the government has deployed elements of Perum Bulog, PT PLN (Persero), PT Pertamina (Persero), and PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk to support handling on the ground.

Prabowo stressed that the safety and fulfilment of basic needs of the public are the government’s priority in handling the emergency period.

“The safety and basic needs of residents are the most important thing at this time,” he said.

The President assured that the government continues to carry out recovery efforts after the earthquake.

Prabowo also conveyed his sympathy and prayers to the communities affected by the disaster.

“Our hearts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in NTT, who are grieving due to the earthquake,” he said.

Previously, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake shook the East Nusa Tenggara region on Saturday (15/8).

Based on updated data from BNPB as of Sunday (16/8) at 00.00 WIB, as many as 9,290 residents remain in a number of evacuation locations.

BNPB also reported that 4,925 of the total 50,000 basic food packages of Presidential aid have been sent via Maumere and Labuan Bajo for further distribution to a number of affected districts.

A further 45,075 aid packages will be sent in stages according to handling needs on the ground.