Prabowo Orders BNPB to Deploy to Earthquake-Affected Areas in North Sulawesi
The government is moving quickly to respond to the earthquake with potential tsunami risks that occurred in the waters off Bitung, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku on Thursday (2/4/2026). President Prabowo Subianto has directly ordered the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and related agencies to immediately deploy to the affected locations.
“The President has been receiving reports since this morning and has ordered us at BNPB, BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), and Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, to directly assist the affected communities. We have been instructed to depart for the disaster area early this morning as well,” stated BNPB Head Suharyanto during a press conference on Thursday (2/4/2026).
He emphasised that this swift action demonstrates the government’s seriousness in placing public safety as the top priority, especially for disaster victims. BNPB has requested all elements in the regions, from BPBD, TNI, Polri, to ministries and agencies, to collaborate in activating emergency response posts in each regency/city. These posts are expected to ensure that the basic needs of affected communities are fulfilled.
“From those posts, ensure that the basic needs of affected communities, such as food logistics, clothing, clean water, and so on, are properly met,” he added, as quoted from the Government Communication Agency’s press release.
BNPB has also asked local governments to promptly collect data and verify the damages caused by this disaster, including residents’ homes, hospitals, and other public facilities.
“Please form teams immediately to conduct assessments and verifications, so that the data collected today, which is still partial, becomes more complete and accurate over time,” he said.
BNPB also stressed the importance of the presence of BPBD Implementing Heads directly among the affected communities to provide accurate information and ensure that victims suffering losses can be handled promptly.
“On one hand, providing correct information, and on the other, if there are affected communities facing difficulties, or their assets or homes are damaged, they can be reported immediately and compensated at the earliest opportunity,” he stated.
Furthermore, BNPB has requested Basarnas to form special teams to go straight to the field. The aim is to ensure the number of survivors and fatalities is accurately recorded.
“There may still be other victims who need to be searched for, found, and helped; search and rescue teams will be formed immediately,” he added.
Suharyanto assured that a joint team from the central government under BNPB coordination will be dispatched soon to the affected areas in North Maluku and North Sulawesi to strengthen on-site handling.
“Upon arrival there, we will hold more detailed meetings to discuss, identify, and resolve all disaster management issues in the region,” said Suharyanto.