SAR Team Evacuates 90 Victims of Flores Earthquake, 40 Dead
The Joint SAR Team has evacuated 90 victims of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Of that number, 40 people died and 50 others were injured.
Temporary data recorded until Saturday (15/8) at 18.30 WIB showed victims spread across the regencies of Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, West Manggarai, and Nagekeo. In Manggarai, the number of fatalities was the highest, at 24 people, followed by East Manggarai with 11 people. Meanwhile, three people died in Sikka, one in West Manggarai, and one in Nagekeo.
Head of the Maumere SAR Office, Fathur Rahman, said all personnel and equipment had been deployed to accelerate the search, rescue, and evacuation of victims. “The Maumere SAR Office has deployed all personnel to the area that was the epicentre of the earthquake in Nagekeo. We have also mobilised the KN SAR Puntadewa to optimise SAR operations. Together with SAR potential across Flores, we are striving to carry out rescue efforts quickly, precisely, and safely,” said Fathur.
A total of 281 personnel from the TNI, Polri, KSOP, BPBD, PMI, regional governments, and other SAR potential were involved in the operation.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the NTT region at around 05.58 WITA on Saturday (15/8), with the epicentre located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo Regency.
The Joint SAR Team is still searching for victims who may be buried under rubble and evacuating affected residents to safe locations. Operations are being maximised within the first 72 hours after the disaster to find and save victims.
Meanwhile, the KN SAR Puntadewa, which sailed from Labuan Bajo, has arrived at Mbay Port to strengthen evacuation operations. A Basarnas helicopter already at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali has been prepared to support operations in affected areas on Sunday (16/8) morning.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 235 aftershocks up to 14.00 WIB.
The House of Representatives (DPR) has urged the government to accelerate the distribution of aid to areas isolated by the M 7.7 earthquake in NTT, prioritising the safety of residents and evacuation.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has mobilised a number of emergency aid supplies at the earliest opportunity. The aid was mobilised from the BNPB logistics warehouse in East Flores.
The central government held a coordination meeting to ensure that emergency handling of the M7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) runs optimally.
The NTT Regional Police deployed an Integrated Task Force to handle the impact of the earthquake in several regencies on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday (15/8).
Basarnas has placed personnel and air assets on standby to search for three residents believed to be buried under rubble following the earthquake in Sikka Regency, NTT.
A total of 986 tourists who had been stranded on Padar Island due to the temporary closure of shipping have been successfully repatriated and arrived safely back in Labuan Bajo.
The cancellation of the closing of the 2026 Golo Koe Festival was also a form of empathy and solidarity from the Diocese of Labuan Bajo towards communities in several areas of Flores affected by the earthquake.
Up to 15.00 WITA, at least 33 people were reported dead in the Greater Manggarai area, namely East Manggarai, Manggarai, and West Manggarai regencies.
JK explained that members of the public wishing to provide assistance could channel it through the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).