Three Dead in East Flores Clash, One Body Still on Road Amid Tensions

A violent clash between youth groups from Narasaosina Village and Waiburak Village in Adonara Timur District, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has resulted in three fatalities. As of Saturday afternoon, one victim’s body remained lying on the road as hundreds of residents prevented its evacuation.

Flores Timur Police Deputy Chief, Kompol Ketut Mastina, confirmed that medical personnel and an ambulance were on standby near the body on the Waiburak highway but could not retrieve it due to the large concentration of people. “Yes, one victim’s body is still on the road and cannot be evacuated because the crowd is still large,” Ketut told CNNIndonesia.com.

Two of the deceased have already been claimed by their respective parties—one from Narasaosina and one from Waiburak. The remaining body is a resident of Narasaosina. Police are currently negotiating with community figures and the victim’s family to calm the crowd and allow the evacuation to a health facility in Adonara Timur.

The physical confrontation occurred on Saturday morning around 6:30 a.m. local time. Flores Timur Police Chief AKBP Adhitya Octorio Putra stated that the cause of the clash is still under investigation. In addition to the three deaths, over a dozen houses were set ablaze during the violence. Additional police personnel have been deployed to secure the area and prevent further clashes.