President Orders Earthquake Emergency Response in NTT, Deputy Social Affairs Minister Deployed to Site
The government is moving swiftly to address the impact of the earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Deputy Social Affairs Minister Agus Jabo Priyono, along with several ministry and agency officials, has been tasked by President Prabowo Subianto to visit the affected areas and take emergency measures according to the needs of the community.
They departed aboard an Indonesian Air Force Boeing aircraft from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport bound for Labuan Bajo. The delegation included Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno and Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto.
Also present were Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Air Marshal Mohamad Syafii, Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo, Deputy Chairman of Committee II of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) Angelius Wake Kako, and Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus.
“Of course, once there we will take measures. The situation is currently an emergency, so we will take emergency measures. Whatever the community needs will be met immediately, starting from logistics, fuel, electricity, signal, and so on,” Agus said in a written statement on Sunday (16/8/2026).
Agus explained that the response is being carried out to assist communities affected by the disaster.
“In principle, we will be present there and then take measures in accordance with what is needed by the communities affected by the disaster in Nusa Tenggara Timur,” Agus said.
According to Agus, assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs has been mobilised since Saturday afternoon. This is intended to support the emergency response situation.
“In accordance with the Ministry of Social Affairs’ duties, in an emergency situation we will of course provide emergency necessities, such as food, tents for evacuees, clothing, including clothing for mothers and children, and other emergency needs,” Agus said.
Agus expressed hope that the aid sent on Saturday (15/8) afternoon from several locations would arrive promptly at the disaster site, so that the basic needs of affected communities can be met immediately.
To ensure effective handling on the ground, the government will also coordinate with the provincial and regional governments in NTT as well as relevant ministries and agencies.
The coordination is planned to take place in Ende, before the delegation continues its journey to several affected locations. After coordination, the delegation plans to directly inspect a number of affected areas. One area of particular concern is Nagekeo Regency, which is reported to have suffered quite severe impacts.
“We will likely travel overland from Ende to Nagekeo, because the situation there is quite severe, and if possible we will also visit other places,” Agus said.
For information, the Ministry of Social Affairs has sent 48 tonnes of rice to strengthen food supply for communities affected by the earthquake in NTT. In addition to rice, the Ministry has mobilised disaster logistics assistance from several locations with a total value of approximately Rp 4.518 billion.
From the Efata Kupang Centre, assistance worth Rp 1.015 billion has been mobilised to Nagekeo Regency. The aid includes camp beds, family kits, roll-up tents, blankets, adult clothing, family tents, children’s food, kids ware, and multipurpose tents.
Meanwhile, the NTT Provincial Social Services warehouse has mobilised assistance worth approximately Rp 541.6 million to support the response in Nagekeo, Sikka, Ende, and East Manggarai. The aid consists of family tents, camp beds, mattresses, and multipurpose tents.
In addition, from the Ministry of Social Affairs Central Warehouse in Bekasi, two aid packages with a total value of nearly Rp 3 billion are also in the process of being shipped to the NTT Provincial Social Services and the Efata Kupang Centre.
The assistance includes 6,000 ready-to-eat meal packages, roll-up tents, family tents, multipurpose tents, main tents, mattresses, blankets, children’s food, children’s and adult clothing, shower kits, and two sets of field public kitchens.