Indonesia deploys Rp4.5 billion in aid after deadly NTT earthquake

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs is deploying personnel and delivering relief supplies worth more than Rp4.5 billion (over US$250,000) following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said in a statement cited in Jakarta that his ministry is working hand in hand with multiple central and regional institutions to carry out evacuation and distribute logistics to areas affected by the 15km deep tectonic quake.

He noted that the supplies being transported include 6,000 packages of ready-to-eat meals, 1,624 portions of children’s food, 600 family kits, 1,700 roll-up tents, 780 mattresses, 233 field beds, 93 family tents, 24 multipurpose tents, and four large sized tents.

Yusuf also mentioned 800 packages of toiletries, thousands of garments for adults and children, 10 portable emergency lamps, 104 sets of kitchen equipment, logistics for public kitchens, and worship kits.

He added that the ongoing distribution involves the ministry’s facilities in Bekasi, West Java, and Kupang, NTT, alongside a warehouse operated by the NTT Social Affairs Office.

To support emergency operations, the ministry has mobilized personnel from various units, including Tagana disaster-response volunteers tasked with assisting in impact assessments, evacuation, and identification of urgently needed goods and services.

“Our teams will continue to assist residents. We will support evacuation and provide victims with temporary shelters while meeting their basic needs,” Yusuf remarked.

The minister highlighted that authorities had prepared the necessary logistics to support shelters, with evacuees gathering in Mbay, Nagekeo District; Maumere, Sikka District; Borong, East Manggarai District; and Ruteng, Manggarai District.

“The governor and heads of affected districts have also taken action,” he said, adding that impact assessments were still underway.

The earthquake, which was centered in Nagekeo, jolted Flores Island early Saturday, with tremors felt across neighboring islands.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll had reached 47 as of Saturday night, with fatalities recorded in Manggarai, East Manggarai, Sikka, Ngada, and Ende.

BNPB is mobilizing 275 tons of relief supplies after the disaster damaged 346 homes and 116 public facilities.