Gibran pledges full response after 7.7-magnitude earthquake in NTT

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka pledged maximum government response to the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that jolted East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) early Saturday, while conveying condolences to affected residents.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all affected residents, especially families who lost members, suffered damaged homes, or are still reeling from difficult situations brought by the disaster,” he remarked.

In a statement received here in Jakarta on Saturday, Gibran assured the public on the government’s commitment to take all necessary measures to bring the situation under control following the quake, which struck near Flores Island with its epicenter in Nagekeo District.

The government would promptly carry out emergency response operations, evacuations, and rapid impact assessments. He also vowed immediate and coordinated distribution of essential relief supplies to affected communities.

“May God bless all NTT people with strength and safety. Let us hope the handling and recovery phase proceed as well as possible,” Gibran concluded.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed Nagekeo was struck by a tectonic earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude at 4:58 a.m. local time in a depth of 15 kilometers, with the epicenter located 38 kilometers northeast of the capital, Mbay.

The quake triggered strong shaking that lasted about one minute in Nagekeo, Sikka, and West Manggarai districts in NTT, sending tremors into Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, including Jeneponto, Selayar Islands, and Maros.

In overseeing the emergency response, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno departed for Nagekeo, accompanied by National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Suharyanto.

Speaking at a press conference in Kupang, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Melki Laka Lena said the earthquake had claimed at least five lives as of Saturday morning, including two in Sikka District and three in Manggarai District.

Laka Lena said the victims were believed to have been killed by falling debris from collapsed buildings.